BJP’s Yeddyurappa denies claims of poaching MLAs, says ‘CM Kumaraswamy is doing horse-trading’

Amid allegations by the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka against the BJP for trying to ‘poach’ it’s MLAs, former state minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa accused CM HD Kumaraswamy of indulging in “horse-trading”. Yeddyurappa, who is in the national capital, told ANI. “Despite being the CM of Karnataka, he is doing horse-trading. He promised money and ministership to our Kalaburgi MLA, that’s why we are here showing unity.”

The BJP leader said that he would be in Delhi for a couple of days more. Incidentally, some of the Congress’JD(S) MLAs are believed to be in the national capital presently. Sources told Times Now that the MLAs were expected to meet with BJP leaders on January 19.

On Sunday, Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar had claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party was partaking in “horse-trading” and that the saffron party had “lured” three of its MLAs to a hotel in Mumbai. The Karnataka minister also referred to “Operation Lotus” and alleged that the operation to overthrow the Congress-JD(S) government was for real. Karnataka govt accuses BJP of poaching MLAs; report says ‘missing’ MLAs-BJP meet on Jan 19

Operation Lotus is a reference to the BJP’s alleged attempt at poaching some opposition MLAs in 2008 to defect in a bid to ensure that there was no threat to the then-government led by Yeddyurappa in the state.

Meanwhile, Deputy Karnataka CM G Parameshwara Rao said that the BJP’s attempts to oust the government from the state will be thwarted. He said, “Some of our MLAs have gone, they can go for temples, holiday, family outings, we don’t know. Nobody said that they’re going to join BJP and destabilise the government. All our MLAs are intact.”

Meanwhile, the BJP has denied all such allegations. Attacking the state government, BJP’s state unit said in a tweet, “Daily activity of Kumaraswamy government…Cry Operation Kamala (referring to alleged poaching by the BJP), hide failure to run government by blaming BJP. Fight among themselves for power….”

The total strength of the Karnataka Assembly is 225. While the Congress has 80 MLAs, the JD(S) had 37 MLAs, and the BJP has 104.