Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Monday claimed that 25 Congress MLAs, including Cabinet ministers, would join the saffron party if elections were held now.
The comment drew a sharp retort from Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who asked the state BJP chief to induct the leaders without wasting any time. “We have no such necessity (to poach), but I would say one thing clearly as the party’s state president: even if elections are announced tomorrow, 25 legislators, including ministers in DK Shivakumar’s Cabinet, would join the BJP.
Such an atmosphere has already been created,” Vijayendra told reporters.
“First ask him to induct them into his party.
Vijayendra said the mood in the state had shifted in favour of the BJP and many Congress leaders would be ready to switch sides While responding to a question on whether the BJP was trying to poach ministers from the ruling party. Making light of the BJP leader’s claim, Shivakumar said let them induct the leaders into their party without any delay. Let him not delay it,” the CM said, mocking the claim. He said reports had emerged that some Congress leaders had resorted to such tactics to gain political power. JDS leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also on Monday questioned the Karnataka government’s failure to order an investigation into an alleged sting operation, asking Shivakumar why his administration was waiting for “time to answer” instead of taking action.
