Will give proof of BJP poaching attempts, says Cong MLA

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Congress MLA from Mandya Ravikumar Gowda, otherwise known as Ravi Ganiga, on Saturday, reiterated the claim that the BJP was trying to poach the ruling party’s MLAs, adding that he would release proof of the same.

Gowda said that he would make the saffron party’s attempts at another “Operation Kamala” public if and when CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar gave their consent.

Operation Kamala – a euphemism for poaching MLAs – ensured BJP toppled the Congress-JD(S) coalition and came to power in July 2019.

BJP engineered the defection of 17 MLAs, which included members of parties, toppling the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government that required bringing BJP bigwig BS Yediyurappa back to power.

However, the 2023 Assembly election results have given the Congress a simple majority of 135. Moreover, allies BJP’s 66 and JD(S)’ 19 seats collectively amount to 85 seats, which is well short of 113, the magic number.

They’ll need to poach at least 28 MLAs, which appears unlikely. “A group of BJP leaders who had connived to topple the Congress-JD(S) government has become active again. They approached four Congress MLAs, offering Rs 50 crore, a ministerial berth and a meeting with (Union) Home Minister Amit Shah,” Ganiga had said on Friday.

He also accused JD(S) man and Yediyurappa’s grandnephew NR Santhosh, a former minister from Belagavi and an MLC from Mysuru of trying to lure Congress MLAs, adding that the MLAs were invited to a fivestar hotel in Bengaluru.

Siddu camp denies CM replacement

The other comment that Ganiga made was about Shivakumar becoming the CM for the second half of the term even as CM Siddaramaiah’s loyalists rubbished the claims.

This included Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa, who reiterated that Siddaramaiah would remain CM for five years. Meanwhile, Minister for Public Works Satish Jarkiholi, Agriculture Minister N Chaluvaraya Swamy and Co-operation Minister KN Rajanna said there was no such plan, adding that the Congress high command would take a call on the same.

Parameshwara holds dinner sans DKS

The speculation was made worse by State Home Minister G Parameshwara inviting Siddaramaiah, Mahadevappa and Jarkiholi to a dinner at the former’s residence on Friday. Conspicuous by absence was Shivakumar, who hadn’t been invited.

Interestingly, Parameshwara was in Shivakumar’s camp. “We got together yesterday for dinner. That’s all,” Parameswara said.

Answering the questions of media persons in Udupi, Siddaramaiah: “He (Parameshwara) had called us for dinner. So we went. Why add ‘masala’ (spice) to it? The media is adding different colours to it and is speculating.”

“There is no wisdom in this (Ganiga’s statement on power sharing). Siddaramaiah will remain the CM for five years,” Mahadevappa said.

“The CM post is not vacant. He is the CM, isn’t he?” he asked. Echoing similar sentiments, Jarkiholi said: “Changing of the posts is left to the high command. We haven’t even discussed it since it is not under our purview.”

“That is his (Ganiga’s) opinion. We say that Siddaramaiah will remain the CM for five years,” Rajanna said. “The high command will decide,” he added.

“We have our legislature party, high command and AICC (All India Congress Committee), who will take a call,” Chaluvaraya Swamy said, adding that the CM post was not vacant.

SHIVAKUMAR THREATENS NOTICES

Shivakumar on Saturday warned Congress MLAs he’d issue notices to them if they discuss the party’s “internal matters”.

“I both request and warn our party MLAs to not discuss the internal matters of the party and the government, including power sharing and also not make other unnecessary remarks before the media. If they still do it, I will issue a notice to them,” he said.