14 November, 2024; In a fresh political development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly offered a hefty sum of ₹50 crores to each of 50 Congress MLAs in a bid to destabilize the Congress-led state government. This startling allegation has stirred political circles and heightened tensions within the state.
Reacting to this, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar responded with measured caution. Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Shivakumar stated, “We will speak with CM and come back to you (media) on this.” His statement hints at further discussions within the Congress leadership before any official follow-up or confirmation is provided.
The allegation comes at a time when Karnataka’s Congress government, led by CM Siddaramaiah, has been pushing forward with several welfare-oriented and development initiatives. Accusations of this nature indicate the presence of political unrest and maneuvering aimed at disrupting the stability of the state’s ruling government. This is not the first time Karnataka’s politics has faced claims of “Operation Kamala” — a term used to describe alleged poaching tactics by the BJP to lure opposition legislators.
Sources close to the Karnataka Congress leadership have voiced concern over these attempts, which, they say, are intended to undermine the voter mandate. The BJP, on the other hand, has not yet responded to these claims. If substantiated, these allegations could lead to a significant political showdown in Karnataka, with far-reaching implications for both Congress and BJP in the run-up to upcoming elections.
Political analysts speculate that the Congress party will likely employ these claims to reinforce its image as a protector of democracy and to highlight alleged BJP “horse-trading” tactics. Shivakumar’s restrained response indicates that the party leadership may be strategizing its next steps carefully, with an eye on public opinion and potential legislative repercussions.
As the story unfolds, the people of Karnataka will be watching closely to see how the state’s leadership navigates this alleged threat and whether further evidence will come to light supporting these serious claims.
