File Picture Courtesy : Deccan Chronicle
The Congress and the JD( S) candidate for Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has made a big allegation and has now accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore to some JD(S) MLAs to switch sides. “If somebody here has forgotten about Operation Kamal, let me remind about that.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been talking about removing black money. The same BJP says will give Rs 100 crore and Cabinet post today to some of my MLAs. Will this Rs 100 crore be black or white? They have money to give MLAs, but what about the Rs 15 lakh promised by the PM.”
In 2008, BJP emerged as the single largest party in the state elections.But it could again not go past the halfway mark. What followed after that was an infamous political manoeuvre known as ‘Operation Kamal’.
The BJP allegedly engineered the defection of 4 JD(S) and 3 Congress MLAs and successfully staked claim to form government in the state. Those who defected from their parties were allegedly promised huge rewards, re-elections and important posts in government bodies. BJP continued to work in this direction and went on to claim support of 121 MLAs in the 224- seat House.
Kumaraswamy during his media address also took a jibe at Prakash Javadeker, When asked whether Union minister Prakash Javadekar, the BJP’s election observer in Karnataka, has approached him, Kumaraswamy says, “Who is Javadekar? Who is that gentleman?”
HD Kumaraswamy says it is the Governor’s prerogative to invite the BJP first, but refuses to reveal what the JD(S) course of action in that will be. “Why should I reveal my plan B now?”
He was earlier in the day elected as the JD(S) Legislature Party leader and is likely to present the letter of support from JD(S) and Congress MLAs to the Governor.
Adding that both the BJP and Congress approached him for alliance he said owing to his previous experience with the saffron party, he feels he has caused “damage to Deve Gowda’s secular image.”I have been offered from both sides. I am not saying this loosely. There’s a black spot on my father’s career because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 & 2005. So God has given me an opportunity to remove this black spot. So I am going with Congress,” he said, adding that he believes that only JD(S) can stop BJP in Karnataka.
Amid report of poaching of MLAs, Kumaraswamy in a warning to the BJP said, “It will boomerang if you try operation Kamala. If you try such things we will bring twice the numbers of your MLAs into our fold.” He also added that the BJP has been trying to contact JD(S) MLAs since last night. “I request the governor not to allow any horsetrading.”
JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy reiterated his support to the Congress party and dismissed all reports of an alliance with BJP. ‘We will not support BJP. There is no question of any alliance with the BJP. People don’t want BJP in Karnataka. We thank people for their support,’ he said, addressing the media after the legislative meet
