BJP may revive ‘Operation Kamala’ post LS polls, but it will not succeed: Siddaramaiah
Team Udayavani, Apr 16, 2019, 9:40 AM IST
Mysuru: The BJP is likely to revive its “Operation Kamala” to topple the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka after the ongoing general election, but it will not succeed in its effort, Coalition Coordination Committee chairman Siddaramaiah has said.
There is no “threat” to the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government, which is “very much stable” and functioning smoothly without hiccups, he told PTI on Monday.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader further said “Operation Kamala 2.0” will not succeed as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is unlikely to return to power at the Centre.
“Operation Kamala” (Operation Lotus) refers to the successful attempt of the BJP to engineer the defection of opposition legislators to ensure the stability of the BS Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka in 2008. It is widely believed that the saffron party is attempting “Operation Kamala 2.0” to form the government in the southern state by trying to lure the legislators of the ruling coalition.
The BJP had tried to engineer defections soon after the May, 2018 Assembly polls when it emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats but fell short of majority. However, the Congress-JD(S) coalition was on guard.
“They may try Operation Kamala again and I do not think they will succeed,” Siddaramaiah told PTI in an exclusive interview.
He was responding to a query on the possibility of the BJP, if it returns to power at the Centre, reviving its “poach-all” operation to stake claim to form the government in Karnataka.
“The BJP cannot come to power at the Centre as it will not win a good number of seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In the 2014 (Lok Sabha) election, it had won 102 of the 120 seats in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Is it possible to win the same number of seats again? How can you say the BJP will come to power?,” the former Karnataka chief minister said, adding that the saffron party may not get 50 per cent of the seats it had bagged in these two states five years ago.
“In Gujarat, the BJP had won all the 26 seats and do you think it is possible this time? Where is the Modi wave? Why is the Modi wave created? I want to know what factors are contributing to the Modi wave,” he said.
Dismissing reports of any threat to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, he said, “We do not have any fear. It is the BJP which is saying the government is not stable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also saying it.”
The Congress-JD(S) coalition has 117 MLAs, whereas the BJP has 104. The saffron party will have to get at least 13 legislators from the ruling alliance to resign from the Assembly in order to bring down the strength of the House, allowing it to stake claim to form the government in the southern state.
The defecting MLAs cannot join the BJP straightaway as in that case, they will attract disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Karnataka goes to the polls in the second and third phases on April 18 and 23.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Puttur: Two arrested for misconduct under influence of drugs
Kaup: Massive campaign and awareness rally Nov 26 for Constitution protection
Have won in people’s court, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on by-poll results
Ruling Cong sweeps Assembly bypolls in Karnataka, setback to BJP-JD(S) alliance
Karnataka Assembly bypolls victory: Shivakumar gives credit to CM Siddaramaiah’s leadership
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Satwik, Chirag doubles pair bows out of China Masters semifinals
Puttur: Two arrested for misconduct under influence of drugs
Kaup: Massive campaign and awareness rally Nov 26 for Constitution protection
Never entered into pact to operate airport in Kenya: Adani
Women centric schemes game-changer for Maharashtra, Jharkhand?
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.