The Janata Dal (Secular) State president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, late on Wednesday, warned the BJP not to tread the “illegal path” by offering bribe or inducements to his party MLA elects in a bid to form the next government. He even alleged that the Income Tax Department officials were tapping the phones of his party MLA elects.
“The BJP can go to any length to grab power. In case such a thing happens, I have to decide my own path to prevent horse-trading and protect our MLA elects,” he told presspersons. When his reaction was sought on former Minister Suresh Kumar’s Facebook post announcing the oath taking time of BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa, he said: “Let them enjoy for four days. I do not have any objection. Governor could be under political influence.”
On a day of hectic political activity in the JD(S) camp, Mr. Kumaraswamy was elected as the JD(S) Legislature Party leader after his name was proposed by Bandeppa Kashappanavar and seconded by G.T. Deve Gowda before he met Governor Vajubhai Vala with the candidates’ list.
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Even as the JD(S)LP was under way, two MLA elects — Raja Venktappa Naik and Appajirao Nadagouda — could not reach the venue on time, triggering speculation that they had switched sides, reminding people of Operation Kamala in 2008. However, former Minister and party leader H.D. Revanna — after meeting the Governor — said that all its 37 MLA elects are together in Bengaluru.
While sources in BJP said that the party leaders, including Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and J.P. Nadda, had met Mr. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday morning in a bid to woo his party into an alliance with BJP, Mr. Kumaraswamy claimed that he had not met anyone from BJP.
Special homas were performed at the residence of former Prime Minister and party patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda. Interestingly, Mr. Gowda has not spoken to the media since the day of elections on Saturday.
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Sources in the party said that since the results came out on Tuesday afternoon, JD(S) leaders have had no time to sit and analyse the reasons for the party’s performance, especially in Tumakuru, Kolar and Chickballapur where its candidates lost in some of the sure seats.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy, commenting on the party performance, said: “I’m not very happy with the results though I accept people’s mandate. I feel that it (mandate) is not good for the State’s development. But I do not blame the people,” he said.
Attributing his party’s performance to confusion caused during elections, he said that division of votes helped the BJP. “Some people have helped BJP by trying to destroy our party. Otherwise, BJP would not cross 80 seats,” he said.
“I appealed to the people to vote for my party to save the State, but people did not understand the message” he added.