Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the BJP and JD(S) may try but they cannot destabilise the Congress government in the state. Shivakumar on Monday had said that BJP and JD(S) leaders had booked tickets to Singapore to meet and plot against the Congress in Karnataka. "Our enemies have become friends. I have information on people who have flown out [to Singapore] only to hatch a plan to destabilise the Congress government in Karnataka," he had said.
Reacting to the allegation, former JD(S) Karnataka president Changaai Mangalote Ibrahim said: "Even if they both join hands then also they'll be able to make only 85 (seats), they still need 50 (seats) more. Why do you care about it? First, you fulfil your promises." "We don't have any such plan [of destabilising government]. If Shivakumar has some doubt, he can directly come and talk to me," the former Congress leader said.
Shivakumar on Tuesday said."They are making some political strategy for political gains, but nothing will work. Our government is strong and stable," he said. JD(S) chief HD Devegowda, however, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times that his party had no plan to join hands with the BJP or become part of the NDA. The party will keep fighting independently and won't join the Opposition's INDIA alliance either.
Last week, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy said that his party had decided to work with the BJP as an Opposition in the interest of the southern state. "I have already said both inside and outside the assembly, as both BJP and JD(S) are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. Even today morning, MLAs of our party discussed how to go ahead," he said.
The Karnataka Congress is dealing with a number of allegations, including allegations of a "cash-for-transfer" scam and misuse of IAS officers for party events.