BJP team trying to poach Congress MLAs, alleges Ganiga Ravi

BENGALURU: The BJP team which was engaged in bringing down the Janata Dal Secular and Congress party coalition government in Karnataka in 2019 is again at work in Karnataka to poach MLAs of the ruling Congress party, said Congress MLA Ganiga Ravi.

In a chat with the mediapersons in Davangere on Friday, Ravi, a first-time MLA representing Mandya Assembly seat, stated that “We have audio and video recordings of conversations to lure our MLAs and the recordings will be made public very soon.”

According to Ravi, the BJP team has contacted 4 of the Congress MLAs and offered them with cash of Rs 50 crore each and a ministerial berth if switched loyalties. The BJP team working to lure Congress MLAs have assured to book a special flight to New Delhi to ferry them to meet Union Minister for Home Amit Shah.

The BJP team busy in contacting Congress MLAs has also made false claims that certain Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP to switch loyalties.

The Congress MLA from Mandya stated that Santosh, a relative of former Chief Minister and BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa, was reaching out to Congress MLAs and said that Santosh contested Arasikere Assembly seat in Hassan in May 2023 election and lost it. But, he has not learnt any lessons.

The attempts of the BJP team to lure Congress MLAs has been brought to the notice of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the recordings would be made public very soon.

Asked whether the BJP team has contacted him, Ravi said none have contacted him with any offers and stated that “They know that I am loyal to the Congress party.”

Joining Ravi, Congress MLA Basavaraju Shivaganga stated that horse trading is on and aware of the developments taking place. He said that none have contacted him to switch loyalties since he has been a loyal party man.

“All happenings would be revealed at an appropriate time,” said Basavaraju.