ENS

Bangalore, Jul 7: The JD (S) has accused the BJP of using ‘mining cash bags’ to break Opposition parties and warned that they (BJP) would be taught a lesson in the bypolls by people for indulging in ‘‘divisive’’ politics. While former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said they cannot stop those leaving the party, his son, former chief minister said this was just a ‘‘beginning,’’ and the ‘‘BJP would be indulging in poaching Opposition MLAs in a big way in the coming days to remain in power.’’

Kumaraswamy said the two JD(S) MLAs who resigned, were interested in their own development and not in that of the State. ‘‘They were forced to quit because of their individual compulsions,’’ Kumaraswamy said.

Meanwhile, State JD(S) president Merajuddin Patel alleged that the mining lobby was behind the poaching. Party spokesperson Ramesh Babu accused the BJP of indulging in ‘‘cheap politics and people by now know the true colours of the BJP,’’ he said.

Acting KPCC president and Opposition Congress leader in the Assembly Mallikharjun Kharge said this was a fraud on democracy and said the Congress would ask the Election Commission not to allow the MLAs to contest elections.