Cong doing 'Operation Lotus' on BJP: KSE

Bangalore, Feb 22: BJP?State president K?S?Eshwarappa on Thursday said the Congress party was indulging in a 'Operation Lotus'-like exercise, by directly making the BJP?MLAs resign.

Eshwarappa, who is also the deputy chief minister, said, “The Congress earlier threatened Yeddyurappa by ordering the CBI probe against him. Out of fear, he quit the party and also made some BJP?MLAs resign and join KJP.

“Once it realised that no more BJP?MLAs are interested in joining the KJP, the Congress has entered the field directly. It is luring the BJP?MLAs with party tickets for the next Assembly polls and making them resign. Yeddyurappa, when he was the chief minister, was accused of getting stability to the BJP through Operation Lotus. The Congress is now doing the same.”

The BJP?leader said the tactics adopted by the Congress would be explained to the people during the electioneering. The BJP would not hesitate to tell voters that the Congress tried its best to destabilise a government headed by a Lingayat from north Karnataka, he said.

To a question as to what the BJP would do if its strength continues to slide, Eshwarappa said that at present, the government has the required numbers to stay in power.

“In case somebody wants us to prove our majority on the floor of the House, we will face it,” he said. The minister said that at this juncture, the party is focusing all its energy on the ULB elections.

Cabinet meeting

Shettar has convened the State cabinet meeting on February 25. This led to speculations that he may take some hard decisions, like recommending dissolution of the Assembly.

However, Eshwarappa said that the Cabinet meeting, which was to be held on Thursday, has been put off to Monday as many ministers are busy with the urban local body elections as February 23 is the last day for filing nomination papers. The?chief minister is not holding any special Cabinet meeting, he said.

'Party hoppers are like dogs and foxes'

BJP?MLA Suresh Gowda on Thursday likened his party MLAs who have turned party hoppers to 'dogs and foxes'.

Irked by a question by the media whether he was joining the Congress party, Gowda said, “Yeddyurappa was like a father figure. Even now, I have respect for him as I could do a lot of work in my constituency because of him. But those who are quitting the party now are like dogs and foxes. They had relished whatever the party offered to them. Now, like ragpickers, they are standing before other parties. Why should I quit the party? I will live like a tiger in my constituency.”

Gowda, who represents Tumkur Rural constituency in the Assembly, is considered a winning horse by all parties, including the Congress. Therefore, the Congress is keen on making him quit the BJP.

At one stage, he was a close associate of Yeddyurappa. Tumkur MP G S?Basavaraj had once said that Gowda had turned his constituency into a model one.

Gowda said that if he joins the Congress, then he would be made to stand with folded hands before the houses of Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara, Mallikarjuna Kharge and others to get work done.

“Why should I?reach such a stage? The Congress will finish outsiders who join the party.” he said.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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