Bengaluru: A fresh political storm has erupted in Karnataka as senior Congress leader and Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to destabilise the Siddaramaiah-led government. Gowda claims that the BJP is planning “Operation Lotus 2.0,” offering a staggering Rs 100 crore to Congress MLAs to switch allegiances.
Speaking to the media, Gowda revealed that he was approached by an individual allegedly acting on behalf of the BJP, who proposed the substantial sum in exchange for his defection. The Congress MLA, however, rejected the offer and vowed to report the matter to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
These explosive allegations come at a time when the Siddaramaiah government is already under fire over the MUDA (Mysore Urban Development Authority) scam, with the BJP relentlessly accusing the Chief Minister of corruption. Gowda’s claims have added fuel to the fire, further intensifying the political battle between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
Gowda disclosed that the BJP had increased its offer from Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore, highlighting the party’s desperation to destabilise the Congress government. He stated that he received a call on Friday from an individual who made the offer, but he flatly refused, telling them to “keep the Rs 100 crore.”
In his allegations, Gowda pointed fingers at key BJP leaders, including Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, former Chief Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, and BJP national general secretaries BL Santhosh and Pralhad Joshi. He accused them of being involved in the plot to topple the Congress government in Karnataka.
In response, the BJP has denied the accusations and instead attacked the Siddaramaiah government, alleging widespread corruption and demanding the Chief Minister’s resignation. The Congress, however, has dismissed the BJP’s claims as a desperate and failed attempt to seize power.
The Congress government, which enjoys the support of 136 MLAs, has insisted that it remains strong and stable despite the BJP’s alleged efforts to undermine it.
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