Karnataka trust vote: These 10 MLAs could make or break the fortunes of BJP

Karnataka Congress and JD(S) MLAs | PTI

77 Congress MLAs were reportedly heading back to Bengaluru from Hyderabad, where they had been taken to evade poaching attempts.

Bengaluru: Saturday’s floor test in the Karnataka assembly is likely to be a rocky affair with the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) combine allegedly using all possible means — saam, daam, dand, bhed — to retain their flocks and also try to wean vulnerable MLAs from each other’s camp.

Barely seven hours before the crucial vote, the stage looked set for a humdinger of a contest, with the BJP pulling out all stops to cover the deficit of eight MLAs from the other camp to reach the magic number of 112 to prove its majority in the assembly. Elections were held for 222 seats of the total 224 constituencies.

On Friday evening, 77 Congress MLAs were said to be on their way to Bengaluru from Hyderabad — where they had been taken the previous evening to evade poaching attempts.

The JD(S), which will get the coveted chair of the chief minister if the BJP loses the floor test Saturday, was also said to be wooing Vokkaliga MLAs in the BJP camp. As it is, Bengaluru as also the rest of Karnataka was abuzz Friday with talks about MLAs who could be amenable to switching their loyalty for certain considerations.

The following is the list of 10 MLAs who are being watched curiously by their party colleagues and rivals alike:

1. Anand Singh, Vijaynagara:The MLA-elect from Ballari district has been incognito since the day of the results. He was conspicuously missing when Congress leaders herded all their MLAs to Eagleton resort in Bidadi despite the fact that the Congress kept saying that he was with them. He was also found missing during the Congress-JD(S) protest in front of Vidhana Soudha on the day Yeddyurappa took oath as chief minister of Karnataka. It was just two months ago that the mining baron from Ballari left the BJP and sided with the Congress to secure a ticket to contest the election.
2. B. Nagendra, Ballari Rural: Known to be a close confidant of the Reddy brothers, he was also named in the illegal mining scam. In 2008 he contested in Kudligi with a BJP ticket, and later as an independent in 2013. This time he defeated, Sanna Fakirappa (another Reddy aide) with a narrow margin of 2,679 votes to win Ballari rural, an ST constituency. Along with Anand Singh, he too shifted his allegiance to Congress a couple of months ago.
3. Pratap Gowda Patil, Maski: Patil was in BJP in 2008 and this time has been elected on a Congress ticket. Like Anand Singh he too became incommunicado. Interestingly he won this election with a wafer thin margin of 213 votes. Despite being in the Congress, his proximity to BJP leaders has made him another potential target for BJP.
4. Rajashekhara Patil, Humnabad: A businessman by profession, he has been in the list of closely watched MLAs by the Congress. Though he has won the seat for the Congress, he has been closely associated with the RSS and the BJP. He was the MLA who first stepped out of the Eagleton resort citing health reasons.
5. Shivanand Patil, Basavana Bagevadi: A Congress MLA, he has been known to have links with the BJP and has on several occasions praised the party and its leaders. Known to be a big Modi fan, he had even tried to align himself with the BJP.
6. Venkatarao Nadagowda, Sindhanur: He was one of the two JD(S) MLAs who skipped  the crucial legislative party meet. It is learnt that H.D. Kumaraswamy spoke to him over the phone and convinced him to stay in the party. He is known to have ‘disagreed’ with the forming of the Congress-JD(S) alliance.
7. Shivram Hebbar, Yellapur: A close associate of senior BJP leaders such as B.S. Yeddyurappa and K.S. Eshwarappa, he is also known to be an admirer of Yogi Adityanath. A Brahmin by caste, he is actively involved with the Udupi math.
8. M.Y Patil, Afzalpur:A disgruntled MLA who shifted camps from BJP to Congress when he was denied a ticket, won a seat for Congress. He could be possibly poached by the BJP, it is feared.
9. Venkataramanappa, Pavagada: Known to be another close associate of Yeddyurappa, he had been a part of the  2008 government. He recently switched sides to the Congress, but his proximity to BJP  could cost the Congress dear.
10. J.N. Ganesh, Kampli: Again a man from the Janardhan Reddy camp, he is closely associated with the business interests of the Reddys. He is also said to be in touch with Anand Singh. A former Congress rebel, he won due to his excellent rapport with the voters in his constituency. The Congress hopes to rekindle their relationship with him to ensure that he supports them during the trust vote.