But Cong says 3 ‘missing’ MLAs proof that BJP trying to destabilise K’taka Govt
Amid political uncertainty in Karnataka over claims by Congress trouble-shooter DK Shivakumar that three of his party MLAs had been whisked away by the BJP to Mumbai and are now untraceable, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said on Monday there is no question of “instability” in the Congress-JD(S) dispensation.
While expressing confidence that no MLA of the JD(S)-Congress alliance will switch side, Kumaraswamy, however, did confirm that three of the Congress MLAs were in Mumbai. On Water Resource Minister DK Shivakumar’s claim that three Congress MLAs were camping at a hotel in Mumbai in the “company of some BJP leaders”, Kumaraswamy said, “(The Congress) MLAs have gone to Mumbai after bringing it to my notice; they are in constant touch with me.”
Not revealing their names, he said, “They are my friends. Those MLAs in Mumbai or 104 BJP MLAs who are in Delhi are all my people, so there is no question of instability to this Government. I spoke to them at 7:30 am. They have gone for personal reasons, and there is no need to add politics to it.”
“...If my Government is facing instability, is it possible for me to be at ease?” he asked. Shivakumar had on Sunday said the BJP’s Operation Lotus to topple the State’s coalition Government is for real, alleging that three Congress MLAs were camping in a Mumbai hotel. He said the Chief Minister is being “lenient” towards the BJP, by not exposing it.
“I have noticed reports in sections of the media (about Operation Lotus). Today too I saw a media report stating that on January 17, President’s rule will be imposed in the State. I don’t know who is feeding such reports to the media...I was surprised to see the report,” Kumaraswamy said.
“I don’t know who will benefit from such reports, but in my opinion it will cause loss to the people of the State,” he told reporters in Mysuru.
Operation Lotus is a reference to the BJP allegedly luring several Opposition MLAs to defect to ensure stability of its then-Government headed by BS Yeddyurappa in 2008. Speculations are rife that six to eight Congress MLAs are ready to jump ship to the BJP side. There are also reports that a few of them have gone incommunicado. In an indication that the move to topple the Kumaraswamy-led alliance Government had the backing of the BJP Central leadership, the BJP is holding up all its 104 MLAs, who had gone to Delhi for the party’s National Council meeting in the national Capital.
“BJP members have gone for their executive meeting and to plan a strategy for Lok Sabha polls to win more seats. What should I do if their meeting is being seen as a threat to this Government?” the Chief Minister asked.
Kumaraswamy said he knew all about who the BJP was contacting and what kind of offers it was using to lure them. “When media friends report that 12 (MLAs) are going, 14 and 18 are going, without the BJP luring them will you get the information? But none of our Congress and JD(S) MLAs will go, falling prey to their allurements. There is no such situation,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara also said the Government is stable. “There is no chance (of the Government becoming unstable),” he said. Asked about the Congress MLAs camping in a Mumbai hotel, he said, “Let them be...Why they have gone, nobody knows. They might have gone on holiday or to visit temples or meet leaders.”
Meanwhile, trashing reports about the BJP attempting ‘to topple the coalition Government in Karnataka, State party chief BS Yeddyurappa on Monday said there was no truth in it and alleged that the Congress-JD(S) combine was trying to lure Opposition MLAs.
He also clarified that BJP MLAs were camping in New Delhi to discuss the strategy for Lok Sabha polls and the party was not indulging in any “resort politics.” “Despite having majority, the Congress-JD(S) combine is trying to lure our MLAs and indulging in horse-trading, the BJP is not doing it.
New agency PTI said the BJP legislators in Delhi were likely to be shifted to Gurgaon, to keep its numbers in tact, with the Congress and JD(S) allegedly planning to poach BJP MLAs as a retaliatory measure to Operation lotus.
However, Yeddyurappa clarified, “There is no need for us to do any “resort politics”, we are not doing also”, he said, adding that a few of them would be in Delhi.
“A few are going to Gurgaon, they will go and come back...There is not even an iota of truth in BJP taking some ruling coalition MLAs to Mumbai.. Only Congress-JD(S) know (why their MLAs are stationed in Mumbai), we don’t know about it.”