BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ to oust Congress-JDS alliance govt in Karnataka, 2 Congress lawmakers in Mumbai hotel with BJP’s leaders
The Congress-JD(S) alliance government in Karnataka is on ‘gun’ point of Bhartiya Janta Party. The Karnataka Minister DK Shivkumar claimed that BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ to oust coalition government was real. The senior Congress leader also alleged that three Congress MLAs are in Mumbai hotel with some BJP leaders.
"Horse trading is going on in the state. Three of our MLAs are in Mumbai in a hotel with some BJP MLAs and leaders. We are aware of what has transpired there and how much has been offered to them," he said.
Let us tell you, ‘Operation Lotus’ is a reference to the BJP ‘allegedly’ luring opposing parties MLAs in a move to ensure the stability of its the then-government headed by BS Yeddyurappa in Karnataka in 2008.
Shivkumar, who was said the man behind the Congress-JD(S) collision, accused Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy of being "lenient" towards the BJP.
"Our chief minister is a bit lenient towards the BJP. By ''lenient'', I mean he is not exposing the facts he knows. All the MLAs have conveyed to the chief minister about the ongoing conspiracies. They have also told Siddaramaiah about it.
"The chief minister is adopting a policy of wait and watch. If I was in his place, I would have exposed it within 24 hours," Mr Shivakumar said. Congress senior leader, however, exuded confidence that the BJP would not succeed in its attempt.
"You have been saying that a ''Kranti'' (revolution) may happen after Makar Sankranti. Let us see. It is not so easy because there is already anti-defection law in place, but we are aware of what you are hinting at," he said.
First published: 14 January 2019, 11:39 IST