BJP poaching Congress, JD(S) MLAs, claims Congress

A day after fractured mandate in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections, the Congress on Wednesday claimed that the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, has been poaching Congress and JD(S) elected members to form a government through the back door. Senior Congress leader and the party’s campaign committee chairman D.K. Shivakumar said the already the party has commenced wooing the Congress and JD(S) elected members. However, the party members remained united. The Congress won 78 seats, BJP won 104, JD(S) 38 and others 2. Replying to a question at the party office, veteran party leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa said, “No elected member from the Lingayat/Veerashaiva community will switch the side. We are all remained united.” Mr. Shivashankarappa is heading the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which opposed the minority religious tag to the Lingayat community. Sources said that the Congress has made a plan, if required, to shift all its MLAs to a resort to prevent the BJP from wooing its MLAs. The Congress Legislature Party meeting was held at the party office and it was attended by senior party leaders, including state party president G. Parameshwara and MPs from the State. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad blasted the BJP saying that they have been breaking the opposition parties since assuming office in 2014 at the Centre, to secure power in states. Speaking to presspersons at the Congress party office here on Tuesday, Mr. Azad said “They (BJP leaders) don’t believe in democracy. They have been breaking the opposition since coming to power (in 2014) at the centre.” Stating that the Congress has decided to support the JD(S) in the formation of the government headed by JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Azad said “JD(S) leadership has also full faith in their MLAs, in spite of all efforts being made by the BJP and central government to woo their (JD-S) MLAs.” Source: The Hindu