BENGALURU: JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore to some JD(S) MLAs to switch sides, according to media reports.
Rs 100 crore offer by BJP:
“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.”
Referring to Goa and Manipur where the Congress couldn’t form the government despite being the single-largest party in these states, Kumaraswamy said, “The BJP is trying to use central powers.
Horsetrading attempt by BJP:
Amid report of poaching of MLAs (lawmakers), Mr Kumaraswamy warns the ruling saffron party over Operation Kamal.
“I warn the BJP if they try Operation Kamal again, it will boomerang against them. We have the power to poach twice the number of BJP MLAs… I request the Governor to follow the precedence of Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya.”
When asked whether the Deve Gowda-led party will take its (lawmakers) to a resort to thwart poaching attempts, Kumaraswamy reacting to reports saying, “It’s not necessary to take MLAs to a resort right now, but if the BJP starts horse-trading, I will have to take steps to protect them.”
No alliance with BJP:
Kumaraswamy added that both the BJP and Congress approached him for alliance but decided to go with Congress. “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.