Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 3: Congress leaders, who have information that BJP is busy undertaking behind-the-scene exercises to topple the coalition government in the state by moving no-confidence motion during the budget session, are planning to issue whip to see that its legislators attend the session and vote for the party in case the above motion is moved.
The Congress has succeeded in protecting the party from the first round of Operation Lotus launched by the BJP. However, it is concerned about the possibility of similar attempts in future. Therefore, they have been telling the party MLAs that Modi's charisma will not work this time during the election and that if they rely on the saffron party's brighter prospects, they would be spoiling their own future.
B S Yeddyurappa
But it is said, BJP is busy doing calculations to bring no-confidence resolution with the support of some disgruntled Congress MLAs. Unless the state budget gets approved, the government cannot spend money for next year. The image of the Congress has suffered a jolt on account of brawl between two of its MLAs resulting in hospitalization of one and registration of case against the other, who is absconding.
As if to provide clue on what might happen, former deputy chief minister, R Ashok, said that he has genuine doubts about the coalition government presenting the budget. "We are not saints. If we get an opportunity, we will definitely wrest power in the state," he said. In retaliation, water resources minister, D K Shivakumar, criticised state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, for being in a tearing hurry to rise to power by smothering democracy. He however predicted that the state government will remain stable, and its chief minister, HD Kumaraswamy, would be presenting a good budget.
Congress legislators, Ramesh Jarkiholi, B Nagendra,Umesh Jadhav and Mahesh Kumthalli, who were in touch with the BJP, continue to maintain distance from Congress leaders. There is news that J N Ganesh, who escaped after seriously injuring another MLA, Anand Singh, in a scuffle at resort in Bidadi, is planning to join hands with the BJP. It would therefore be interesting to see whether BJP would be able to conjure up requisite numbers to precipitate fall of the state government.