Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Sep 6: If the rumours, both thick and thin, doing the rounds in the capital city are to be believed, a handful of legislators are likely to cross over to the BJP in the coming days. It is expected that around ten to twelve MLAs will join the saffron party by next month. This time however, JD(S) is expected to be hurt the most. 

The BJP wants to cement the position of the government as far as number of legislators loyal to it is concerned before the winter session of the assembly begins. Once the party enjoys an unshakeable position with comfortable majority, the government will have no reasons to fear for the entire remaining term of the assembly, political analysts point out. 

C M Yediyurappa

After the disqualification of 14 Congress MLAs and three JD(S) legislators, the total strength of the assembly now stands reduced to 207 as against the previous 224. The party is said to be in touch with a number of opposition legislators and it appears that some MLAs are more than willing to respond to its invitation. 

The name of former minister, G T Devegowda, who had defeated Siddaramaiah twice in the past, and who had praised Narendra Modi in public on more than one occasion, has emerged as one of the likely defectors. Nagamangala MLA, Suresh Gowda, Tumakuru (rural) MLA, D C Gourishankar, state JD(S) president and Sakleshpur MLA, H K Kumaraswamy, and Gurmitkal MLA, Nagangouda Kandakur are the other persons who have reportedly been contacted and about whom BJP has high hopes. 

Congress MLAs from Ballari rural and Hagarimbommanahalli, Nagendra B and Bheema Naik, are also said to be on the list of probables prepared by the BJP. By speaking openly against the previous government on Thursday, JD(S) MLC, Puttanna, has sent rumour mills churning stories about his intentions. The other name that is under consideration is of Dasarahalli legislator, R Manjunath. 

JD(S) spokesperson, Ramesh Babu, however, dismissed the notion about his party leaders changing loyalties as absurd. He blamed the BJP for spreading baseless information in order to conceal dissidence within its ranks. He asserted that none of his legislators will desert the party.