Operation Lotus in garage now

BANGALORE: Faced with flak from party cadres, the state BJP head honchos, for the time being, have put brakes on Operation Lotus.
Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa , one of those instrumental in bringing the operation into force, on Monday said the party would discontinue poaching MLAs from other parties.
He, however, maintained that he was committed to induct Umesh V Katti, a JD(S) defector, into his cabinet on Wednesday.Katti will come in place of horticulture minister S K Ballubbi, who gave his resignation papers on Sunday.
A meeting of ministers and senior party colleagues convened by Yeddyurappa on Sunday is said to have discussed the issue threadbare and decided to suspend the operation. Many party workers on Sunday conveyed to state BJP president D V Sadananda Gowda their unhappiness on the treatment meted out to the rank and file, while giving a red carpet welcome to the defectors.
Taking serious note of the suggestions, Gowda himself is said to have mooted the idea to suspend the poaching scheme. As a result, a few Congress MLAs, who were at BJP's doorstep, have been asked to wait for some days.
Some ministers, who were approached by Yeddyurappa to resign and make room for the defectors, are understood to have urged the party leaders not to give weight to poaching operation.
(toiblr.reporter@timesgroup .com )