Lodged in Eagleton resort near Bengaluru, Congress MLAs have been told to record the calls they get from the rival camp.
New Delhi: A resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru is witnessing a new version of the spy-versus-spy game as the Congress tries to shield its flock of 78 MLAs from suspected ‘poachers’ from the rival camp.
BJP’s B.S. Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as chief minister Thursday, has been given 15 days to prove majority on the floor of the House, but the BJP with 104 MLAs needs 8 more to reach the magic number of 112 in the 224-member assembly.
Malur MLA K.Y. Nanjegowda was sitting with Madhu Goud Yaskhi, AICC secretary in charge of Karnataka, Wednesday evening when he got a call on his mobile. Congress leaders privy to the conversation claimed that the person at the other end first sought to know whether he was speaking to the right person — that is, the newly elected MLA from Malur.
After getting confirmation, he requested the Congress MLA to keep his mobile “free” for the next five minutes as B. Sriramulu — a newly elected BJP MLA and associate of Ballari’s mining baron Reddy brothers — would be calling him.
Nanjegowda tried to prolong the conversation as he and Yaskhi fiddled with the phone to try to record it. The caller, who didn’t identify himself, apparently got suspicious and disconnected. The two Congressmen waited for the promised call from the BJP leader but it didn’t come.
Congress leaders allege that party MLAs have been getting similar calls from Reddy brothers’ “camp” since Tuesday when Karnataka poll results gave a hung assembly. Brought to Eagleton resort Wednesday evening, these newly elected legislators have now been asked to record the calls they get from the rival camp. Tech-savvy leaders are helping them to learn how to record such conversations.
Striking a chord with MLAs
Senior Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, B.K. Hari Prasad and K.C. Venugopal are camping in Bengaluru to keep the flock together. “We are constantly talking with the MLAs to ensure that they don’t fall for any enticement. After all, they have just spent so much money in the election,” said a senior Congress leader.
The party is also heavily leaning on former chief minister Siddaramaiah to use his “personal rapport” with newly elected MLAs to prevent defections. R. Shankar of the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) had met Yeddyurappa and announced support to the BJP Wednesday morning but he changed his mind by the evening after Siddaramaiah spoke to him.
JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy had earlier accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore and cabinet berths to his party MLAs for switching their loyalty. Union minister Prakash Javadekar, however, dismissed the allegations, terming them as “imaginary” and asserting that “the BJP is not in the habit of horse-trading”.
ThePrint has sought comments from Sriramulu; his response is awaited.
“Their (the BJP’s) game will be over even before the floor test. You don’t have to wait for 15 days. Let them elect the speaker (of the assembly) first,” B.K. Hari Prasad told ThePrint.
In the mean time, the Congress is keeping its eye on the Supreme Court, which will hear the Congress-JD(S) petition again Friday, challenging Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite the BJP to form the government. These two parties came together after poll results were out to stake claim to form the government but the governor decided in favour of the BJP.