HUBBALLI/BENGALURU: A day after
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa
claimed that
20 Congress MLAs are ready to jump ship after the Lok Sabha poll results, Congress minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Sunday claimed that
10 BJP MLAs are in touch with his party leaders and eager to join the party.
“Let
Yeddyurappa release the list of MLAs ready to switch sides and I’ll release the list of
BJP MLAs ready to join us,’’ said food & civil supplies minister Zameer in Hubballi. He alleged that Yeddyurappa, who couldn’t become CM even after winning 104 seats, is desperate and misleading people. Congress strategist
DK Shivakumar said Yeddyurappa is daydreaming of becoming CM again. He insisted no Congress MLA would leave for the BJP.
Favourable atmosphere, says BSYYeddyurappa said he foresees a
positive atmosphere for BJP to form the government in the state. “There are indications that we’ll win around 22 of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka as well as the Kundagol and Chincholi bypolls. This will create a positive atmosphere for us,’’ Yeddyurappa said in Hubballi.
He was responding to a question about Congress leaders claiming that BJP leaders were in touch with them. “Our MLAs and workers are united. Though Congress leaders, including AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, are trying to lure them, none will succeed as they know there’s a BJP wave,’’ he added.
Predicting changes favouring BJP in the state after the results, Yeddyurappa said the party tally in the assembly will increase with the bypoll wins. “Congress is under the illusion it can use money power, but I'm confident we’ll win the bypolls by earning the people’s trust,” he added.
KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao also hit out at BJP for its claims and said the results would silence those speculating on the fall of the coalition government. “Earlier, it (BJP) said the government would fall after Diwali, then Sankranti. They don't believe their own statements,” Rao said.
HDK campaigns in Kundagol todayEnding speculation about his participation in campaigning, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will campaign for Congress candidate in Kundagol on Monday. On Tuesday, he’ll travel to Kalaburagi and campiagn for Congress candidate in Chincholi.