Former Chief Minister and chairman of the coordination committee of the coalition Government in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has made strong allegations against the BJP of trying to buy their MLAs by offering them Rs 25 to Rs 30 crore. He also said BJP was trying to destabilise the Congress- JD(S) coalition Government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
The Congress just after the Cabinet expansion is handling a major crisis with many of their MLAs being upset with the party for not getting place in the Cabinet. The party is also handling the coalition partner JD(S) which is upset over the big brother attitude of the Congress.
“BJP is indulging in horse trading by offering Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore to each legislator. If they are not corrupt, where are they getting such a huge amount from? As the Opposition party, what has it done so far except trying to bring down the Government,” Siddaramaiah tweeted. Political observers said that his comments have to be seen in the context of the future moves of former Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped from Cabinet last week.
Senior Congress leader and strongman of Belagavi Ramesh Jarkiholi remaining incommunicado for close to a week, speculations of him joining the BJP are worrying the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka. Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was the minister for municipal and urban administration, was dropped from the Cabinet on 22 December.
According to sources Jarkiholi is to be in talks with BJP’s senior leadership in New Delhi. BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa’s extended stay in New Delhi has intensified the speculations of Ramesh meeting BJP president Amit Shah to discussion a possible defection.
A close confidant of Ramesh Jarkiholi said that Ramesh was in touch with a few disgruntled MLAs. According to sources, there are at least many MLAs from North Karnataka, who were denied a cabinet berth, supporting Ramesh Jarkiholi. However, the BJP will require 16 MLAs to resign or abstain from participating in the vote of confidence to topple the Government. Kumaraswamy who is heading a fragile coalition is away in Singapore with his family to celebrate New Year but has so far not cleared the list of MLAs appointed to boards and corporation by the Congress party.
Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t know where Ramesh Jarkiholi is. None knows. But I’m sure he will not leave the party, come what may” .
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramiah questioned Modi’s moral right to criticise the State Government on the issue of farm loan waiver. He said "I had twice led delegations (to Modi) as a Chief Minister, he did not agree to waive a single rupee. What moral right does he have?" .
Alleging that Modi and his Government were against the agriculture sector, he questioned their contribution to the farming community. "Ok we have given lollipop, what pop has he given? What has he given?" Siddaramaiah asked.