Bengaluru: Four MLAs were absent at the Congress Legislature Party meeting held in Karnataka as a show of strength against the BJP. The absence of Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumatahalli, B Nagendra and Umesh Jadhav exposed a rift in the coalition government but doesn’t pose imminent threat.
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said that besides deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, 76 MLAs and other state leaders were present at the meeting.
The absentees were issued notice by Siddaramaiah and were warned that their action would be viewed seriously. He also added that action would be initiated according to the Anti-Defection law. On Tuesday, the coalition government faced the first blow, when two independent withdrew their support. B S Yeddyurappa, BJP state chief, claimed that the two were supporting BJP and that their strength was 106 now.
Since there has been reports that eight more MLAs might jump ship to BJP, the Congress MLAs, soon after thw meeting, were taken to a resort near the city.
In the 224-member Assembly, BJP has 104 members, Congress 79, JDS 37, BSP, KPJP and Independent one each, besides Speaker. BSP is supporting the government.
Meanwhile, BJP MLAs continued to stay at a luxury hotel in Gurugram and the party has defended saying it was to prevent the Congress from poaching them.
Following this, Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP by saying that his party’s MLAs were united and intact. BJP’s temptations were so much of money. He alleged that Rs 50 crore, Rs 100 crore and Rs 25 crore were being offered to Congress MLAs to quit. He also lashed out at Narendra Modi and asked how come the ‘Chowkidar’ is getting so much of money. he also further claiming that he would show proof of how much money was offered to several of his party workers.
Congress’s leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused Modi of attempting to take control of his party and topple the state government by using CBI, ED and Income Tax.
Ahead of the CLP meeting, senior Congress leaders in Karnataka assured there was no threat to the coalition government and hit out at the BJP for making “futile attempts” to destabilise it. He said the saffron party’s conspiracy had been exposed.
Dinesh Gundurao, KPCC president, said there is no threat to this government and it will complete five years. The BJP is making futile attempts.
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa said several legislators appeared to be attending the meet out of compulsion. He said the coalition was claiming the support of some BJP MLAs and it was because of this that the party had decided they should stay together in a hotel in Gurugram.