Karnataka : Kumaraswamy accuses BJP of horse-trading ; pledges alliance with Congress
Bengaluru, May 16 (IBNS) : As the political slugfest over formation of Government goes on in Karnataka with Bharatiya Janata Party's B S Yeddyurappa apparently taking lead in the race, Janata Dal(Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy has accused the BJP of going for horse-trading by, making an offer of Rs 100 crore and cabinet posts to some of his party MLAs, bringing in a murky tinge to the high drama being enacted in Bengaluru, the state capital, reports said.
Addressing a press conference, the former Chief Minister also condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saying the BJP will rule Karnataka even without the requisite numbers.
Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa submitted the papers of his election as BJP Legislature Party leader to Governor Vajubhai Vala and staked his claim to form a Government, despite his party that emerged as the single largest one falling short of majority.
“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?” Kumaraswamy said at the press conference after the JD(S) party meeting.
Slamming the BJP, Kumaraswamy said : “BJP’s Ashwamedha Yatra started in the north, the horses have been stopped in Karnataka. This verdict is to stop the Ashwamedha Yatra.”
Out of the total 223 Assembly seats, the BJP has won 104, nine short of majority, while the Congress has bagged 78 and JD(S) 38. To keep the BJP out of power, the Congress has extended support to the JD(S) to muster a combined strength of 116. The Congress has also left the Chief Minister's post to JD(S), which has elected Kumaraswamy as the Legislative Party leader.
After making the sensational allegation, Kumaraswamy warned the BJP against aspiring to rule Karnataka and keep its juggernaut rolling to southern India, saying he is ready for counter poaching in response to any such attempt by the saffron party : “Forget ‘Operation Kamal’ being successful, there are people who were ready to leave BJP and come with us. If you try to poach one from ours, we’ll do the same and take double from you."
" I’m also telling the Governor to not take any decision which encourages horse-trading,” Kumaraswamy said.
On being asked if he had met BJP Karnataka in-charge Prakash Javadekar, Kumaraswamy says, “Who is Javadekar? Who is that gentleman?”
Kumaraswamy, who is the son of JD (S) chief and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, asserted that his party will be with the Congress, and not with the BJP anyway. "There’s a black spot on my father’s career because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 and 2005. God has given me opportunity to remove this black spot. So I am going with Congress,” he said.
Kumaraswamy said he will meet the Governor again along with Karnataka Congress president. “Congress has given us unconditional support, we have good understanding."
According to reports, the Congress is also holding a meeting with its MLAs and has readied plans to “secure” the newly elected lawmakers at resorts.
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