Bengaluru: Exposing the vulnerability of the ruling Congress to poaching efforts by the opposition BJP, four dissident MLAs on Friday skipped the Congress Legislature Party(CLP) meeting called to present a show of strength against Operation Lotus reportedly launched by the BJP to dislodge the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.
Although, two lawmakers gave reasons- Umesh Jadhav wrote to CLP leader
Siddaramaiah and B. Nagendra orally informed AICC general secretary, K.C. Venugopal about the reason for his absence- they still face the threat of being suspended or disqualified.
Speaking to reporters here, Congress Legislature Party(CLP) leader, Siddaramaiah said, "Four MLAs have not attended the meeting. Two MLAs - Ramesh Jarkiholi and Mahesh Kumthalli of Athani - have neither informed nor got in touch with us. The other two MLAs - Mr Jadhav and Mr Nagendra – have informed us but we want to be doubly sure they are still with us. If they do not meet us in person, we will send a showcause notice to them too. It is almost certain that Mr Jarkiholi and Mr Kumthalli will get showcause notices shortly."
The CLP leader said that after receiving the replies, the issue will be discussed with the party high command and state leaders before deciding on the next step.
Ahead of the CLP meet, Mr Siddaramaiah had issued notices to all party MLAs warning that their absence would be viewed "seriously" and action would be initiated according to the Anti-Defection law. The former CM revealed that 76 MLAs were present at the meeting which was attended by
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal and Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, besides other state leaders.
Mr Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minster Narendra Modi of attempting to take control of Congress party MLAs by using the CBI, ED and Income Tax wing to terrorise them as part of the BJP's alleged bid to topple the state government. "They are trying multiple things such as threatening our MLAs by carrying out CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax raids," he alleged.
