Accusing the opposition BJP of attempting ‘Operation Kamala’ to destabilise the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka, a ruling party MLA on Sunday claimed that efforts were on to entice Congress legislators, by offering ₹100 crore.
Congress MLA from Mandya Ravikumar Gowda (Ravi Ganiga) alleged that though attempts are on by the BJP to destabilise the government by luring MLAs, no legislator will fall for it, and the government was stable and strong.
‘Operation Kamala’ (Operation Lotus) refers to an alleged attempt of the Bharatiya Janata Party to engineer defection of its opponent party legislators to install its own government and to ensure its stability.
“Even today I’m saying, they (BJP) have now raised the offer to ₹100 crore from ₹50 crore, someone had called day-before-yesterday saying hundred (crore) ready, (wanted) to purchase 50 MLAs. BJP people have gone from ₹50 crore to ₹100 crore,” Gowda said in response to a reporter’s question.
Addressing media here, he said, “Someone had called me, I told him to keep ₹100 crore with himself, I thought of complaining to ED. Everyday they (BJP) are planning to dislodge our government, from ₹50 crore, they have now gone to ₹100 crore offer, but our government is stable, the Chief Minister is also strong,” he added.
Earlier, in October last year too, Gowda had claimed that a team was trying to lure Congress legislators with offers of ₹50 crore and ministerial positions. He had said that four legislators have been contacted, and there is evidence to support this claim.
Gowda today accused BJP national General Secretary Organisation BL Santhosh, Union Ministers Shobha Karnadlaje, Pralhad Joshi and HD Kumaraswamy (of JDS) of working as a “gang” to destabilise the Congress government in the state.
With 136 MLAs the Congress government is “strong like a rock”, there is a popular CM, who is pro-poor, and no one can dislodge it, he further said. “But these people have promised PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and are walking around with an aim to topple the government.”
Alleging that BJP’s “brokers” are contacting Congress MLAs every day, Gowda said, “none of our MLAs will fall for it... they (BJP)want to dislodge the government by purchasing MLAs. They want to destabilise, as Congress is strong in Karnataka…,” he added.
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