Congress, JD(S) unperturbed by BJP’s poaching attempts in Karnataka

BENGALURU: While chief minister HD Kumaraswamy watched the rushes of the historical Kannada movie Kurukshetra, which has his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the lead role, on Tuesday, the state Congress leadership held a series of meetings, but was cool to the BJP’s attempts to destablise the government.

Prior to meeting Congress leaders for talks, Kumaraswamy, who watched the rushes in producer and Congress legislator N Muniratna’s house, told reporters, “I am relaxed.”

Congress sources say nothing is likely to happen and these are all “pressure tactics” by some party leaders to demonstrate their one-upmanship. They say the BJP has fallen prey to this manoeuvering.

Congress appears unfazed by the withdrawal of support by two independent MLAs, R Shankar and H Nagesh, and reports that four Congress MLAs are camping in Mumbai and negotiating with the BJP to switch sides.

“We have no issues about our numerical strength,” said Dinesh Gundurao, KPCC president. “The two independent MLAs are free to choose who to support. There are only four to five of our MLAs in Mumbai. The BJP has to poach 15 to 16 MLAs to execute its plan. This is not possible.”

Speaking to TOI, KC Venugopal AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, who has been in discussions with Congress leaders since the wee hours of Monday, said: “We have nothing to worry. The BJP is going to get a slap for this futile exercise. By keeping their MLAs in a hotel to glorify themselves, they will be in the news for some time.”

A source said: “The BJP is taking a huge risk by indulging in this exercise. If push comes to shove, we have also identified some BJP MLAs who are ready to quit and join us.”

Four Congress MLAs are reportedly lodged in a five-star hotel in Mumbai. If sources are to be believed, 20 rooms were booked in the name of “Chefs”, but only four rooms were occupied. The responsibility of taking care of these legislators had been entrusted to a senior BJP cabinet member of the Maharashtra government.

Reports say when Maharashtra Congress president Sanjay Nirupam learnt Karnataka Congress MLAs were in the city, he visited the hotel to find out if they were in Mumbai on personal work or if they were lured by the BJP.

Cong MLAs to resign?

Kumaraswamy, Parameshwara and other Congress leaders reportedly made desperate attempts to pacify disgruntled MLAs, but in vain. Sources say the MLAs — Mahesh Kumatalli (Athani), B Nagendra (Ballari Rural), Umesh Jadhav (Chicholi) and Ganesh (Kampli) — who have ganged up under the leadership of former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi, refused to heed Congress leaders’ requests.

They reportedly told party leaders that they have reached a point of no return, hinting that they may join the BJP. The BJP is confident these MLAs will resign soon. “We have held negotiations and now it is time for action,” said a BJP MLA.

Will the two independent MLAs do another U-turn?
The Congress has not ruled out the possibility of the two independents, R Shankar and H Nagesh, from retracting their stand on withdrawing support to the Kumaraswamy-led government. It’s well known that Shankar, a Kuruba who was dropped from the cabinet, is a follower of former CM Siddaramaiah, while Nagesh, a former Bescom employee, was mentored by water resources minister DK Shivakumar. Sources say the MLAs are camp followers of either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar and all it needs is for them to crack the whip. Shivakumar, who was scheduled to leave for Mumbai on Tuesday, shelved the plan.

My government has a majority. BJP leaders who are hand in glove with a section of the media are spreading false news about the stability of the coalition government. I am not at all bothered
HD Kumaraswamy, chief minister

The BJP is indulging in an exercise to destabilise Congress’s preparations for Lok Sabha elections and to showcase that the mahaghatbandhan will not work
G Parameshwara, deputy chief minister