'Operation Lotus' activated in Karnataka, alleges Congress; CM Kumaraswamy says 'in touch with missing MLAs'

Shivakumar brief reporters ahead of a meeting held by the party's senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The newly-elected Karnataka Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy (bottom-R) and coalition colleagues stand for the national anthem during the trust vote in the floor of Karnataka Assembly at the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on May 25, 2018. - The chief minister of a key Indian state plunged into a political crisis that saw Supreme Court hearings and accusations of bribery quit May 19 after admitting he did not have enough support to form a government. (Photo by MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP)

Bengaluru: JD-S leader and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy may be asserting that the coalition government he’s leading in Karnataka is “stable” but reports from neighbouring Maharashtra depict a different story.  There has been a burgeoning political crisis since the formation of the JDS-Congress government in the southern state and is proliferating by the day.  The epicentre of it is said to be Belagavi or Belgaum from where BJP is alleged to have to have activated its ‘Operation Lotus’ under the supervision of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Minister for Irrigation D.K. Shiv'Operation Lotus' activated in Karnataka, alleges Congress; CM says missing MLAs in touchakumar, Congress ‘most trusted lieutenant in the state has accused the BJP of trying to poach Congress legislators.  "Three of our MLAs are in Mumbai. We (Congress) are aware of the horse trading that is being attempted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Our legislators have also admitted to being approached by the BJP," Minister for Irrigation D.K. Shivakumar told the media in Bengaluru this morning. Shivakumar, however, did not name the MLAs who were reportedly approached by the BJP. ABP News has found that MLAs Anand Singh, B Nagendra, Umesh Jadhav, BC Patil are currently in Mumbai and could be in contact with the BJP. Apart from the four, Ramappa Bhimanayak, K Ramesh and B Satyanaryana of the JDS are also said to be in touch with the saffron party. Independent candidate R Shankar is also among the list who could switch loyalties.  And perhaps most controversially of all Congress MLA Ramesh Jharkiholi is also reportedly disappointed with the party and may become turncoat. The horse trading rumours emanated from Belagaum where the Jharkiholi brothers and their family members wield an enormous influence.

#OperationKamala CM @hd_kumaraswamy speaks to media: All the three MLAs are in contact with me. They went to Mumbai after informing me. My govt isn't under any threat. I know who all BJP is trying to contact & what they're offering. I can handle it, why should media be concerned? pic.twitter.com/20rqGwCH48

— Pinky Rajpurohit (ABP News) (@Madrassan) January 14, 2019

Shivakumar brief reporters ahead of a meeting held by the party's senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao. Refuting the allegations of the Congress of launching ‘Operation Lotus’, the BJP said there is a power struggle within the coalition government and to hide it, it is blaming them. "Daily activity of Kumaraswamy government...Cry Operation Kamala (referring to alleged poaching by the BJP), hide failure to run government by blaming BJP. Fight among themselves for power...," the party's state unit tweeted.

Daily activity of @hd_kumaraswamy government

Morning : Make fake promises in media get full coverage & enjoy breakfast Afternoon : Cry operation Kamala, hide failure to run govt by blaming BJP Night : Fight among themselves for power & go to sleep Next day : repeat.. — BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) January 14, 2019

In the 225-member Assembly, the Congress and the JD-S have 116 in total and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 104. Others have 3 seats. The magic figure is 113. (WATCH REPORT)