Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of attempting 'Operation Kamala' to destabilise his government and asserted that they would not be successful, as none of the Congress legislators would fall victim to it.
'Operation Kamala' (Operation Lotus) refers to an alleged attempt by the BJP to engineer the defection of legislators from opposing parties to install its own government and ensure its stability. The term is often used to describe political maneuvers aimed at toppling rival governments by luring legislators to switch their allegiance.
Karnataka Chief Minister was responding to a statement made by his party's Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda (also known as Ravi Ganiga). Ravikumar Gowda claimed that a team responsible for the fall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019 was currently working to entice Congress legislators. The alleged allurements include offering Rs 50 crore and a ministerial post. According to him, they have already contacted four legislators, and there is evidence to support this claim, which they plan to share soon.
'BJP is attempting Operation Kamala...'
"I don't know, I haven't spoken to Ravi (Ravikumar Gowda), who has made the statement. But, I too have the information that BJP is attempting Operation Kamala to destabalise this government," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question on MLA's statement.
Siddaramaiah, expressed his confidence while speaking to reporters that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not succeed with "Operation Kamala" in the state, as no Congress MLA would defect to the BJP's efforts to engineer political defections.
Gowda had also alleged that individuals linked to B. S. Yediyurappa, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, including his former personal assistant who had joined the Janata Dal (Secular) and lost in the assembly elections, were involved in efforts to entice Congress legislators away from the party.
What DK Shivakumar said on Gowda's remarks
In his response to Gowda's remarks, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, "Big conspiracy is being hatched, but it will not bear fruit. We are aware of everyone's conduct. He (Gowda) has taken a youngster's name, but big people are making efforts in this (Operation Kamala). Nothing will happen."
Recently, Shivakumar had made allegations that a team within the BJP is actively working to destabilize the state government. He claimed that Congress legislators had informed him and Siddaramaiah about who was approaching them and what offers were being made to them by this team.
Shivakumar, who is also the Congress' state chief, has urged Congress MLAs not to make any public statements about the party's internal matters or the administration. He emphasised that "this is both the last warning and request. If such statements are made in the future, it will be inevitable for me to issue notice."
Gowda claimed on Friday that Shivakumar would become the Chief Minister after two and a half years of the Siddaramaiah-led government's tenure, which has generated discussions and reactions within party circles.
(With PTI images)
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