Chennai: Karnataka BJP MLA Shrimant Balasaheb Patil on Sunday said that he was offered money to quit Congress and join BJP before the Congress-JDS government was toppled in the state.
According to ANI, Patil informed the media persons that he was offered money to join BJP but instead he sought a minister’s post to serve the people.
Briefing the media Patil said, "I have joined BJP without taking any offer of money. I was offered money to join the party. I could have asked for as much as I wanted. I did not ask for money, I asked them to give me a minister's post to serve the people."
Quoting the MLA, ANI said, "I do not know why I was not given a ministership in the present government. But I have been promised that I will get a minister's post in the next expansion. I had a word with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai."
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Patil is an MLA from Kagwad assembly segment in Karnataka. He had been associated with the Congress for a long time, but joined the BJP in July 2019. He was one of the 16 MLAs who jumped ship that year, which led to the fall of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government led by the then chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. Even though he was given a ministerial post when former chief minister Yediyurappa formed the government, he was dropped after Yediyurappa resigned and Basavaraj Bommai took charge.
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According to ANI, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said, “BJP offered money to Congress and JDS MLAs. They have given Rs 25 crore to Rs 35 crore. Shrimant Patil has made a correct statement.”