Big claims: BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Monday (August 14) claimed that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka will fall before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as nearly 25 legislators from the ruling party are ready to step down.
Yatnal, who is an MLA from Bijapur (Vijayapura) City expressed hope that the BJP will return to power once again.
"Congress which says it has got 135 seats is unable to sleep; if 30 people go out, the government will fall. 25 people are ready. Some Ministers are behaving as though they have got all powers and are removing or transferring officials," Yatnal, a former Union Minister, said addressing a crowd here.
He alleged that Muslim officials are being posted in Vijayapura, and asked "what can you do by bringing in Muslims? I'm an MLA and they should abide by me....If any official plays any drama to oppress Hindus...We will come back in January. You guarantee...it is till March. You will be out before Lok Sabha (polls)."
"That's the reason both Ministers from Vijayapura, who were behaving as though they were flying high after coming to power, have now toned down.... they have realised that 35-40 people are ready. If 30-35 people are ready the government will go," he added.
The BJP leader pointed to the remarks made by senior Congress MLAs like Basavaraj Rayareddy who expressed displeasure about Karnataka becoming a "corrupt state", and also dissatisfaction expressed during a recent legislature party meet regarding the functioning of Ministers, and said, "their own MLAs are speaking out."
"What they (Congress leaders) want is money, because they have spent during the election..." he said, alleging that large-scale corruption in transfers and lack of funds for development due to 'guarantee schemes' (poll promises) have upset MLAs.
Notably, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had recently claimed that a plot was being hatched in Singapore to topple the government.
(With PTI inputs)
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