We will fan the fire between coalition partners: MLA CT Ravi

Team Udayavani, Jan 18, 2019, 8:42 AM IST

Bengaluru: While BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa termed as baseless allegations of ‘Operation Lotus’ and said that no member of his party was involved in any operation to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, BJP general secretary, C T Ravi admitted that his party was merely fanning the fire between the coalition partners.

“Of course we will add fuel to the fire within the Congress and JDS because we should have had the opportunity to form the government. This is politics. We are not here to do charity,” said Ravi.

Speaking to reporters here Ravi said that despite BJP winning 104 seats, the Congress JDS alliance formed the government due to simple mathematics. “BJP is not indulging in any wrongdoing by cashing in on the internal bickering of the coalition leaders. Dissidence is in your party, BJP is not to be blamed if your MLAs don’t stay with you,” added Ravi.

On accusations of poaching, Ravi questioned why it wasn’t poaching when the Congress had indulged in it. 

“In 2005-06, when Siddaramaiah, the then deputy chief minister and leader of JD(S) legislature party had joined Congress, was it auction or purchase?  In 1999, seven JD(S) MLAs switched to the Congress. Was that a wholesale or retail deal? The same politics you played in the past is what we are playing now,” he said.

He insisted that the Congress suspend or dismiss its dissidents if it had any self-respect.