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Alleging that the ruling Janata Dal(Secular)-Congress coalition was trying to lure its MLAs in Karnataka, state Bharatiya Janata Party president B S Yeddyurappa Monday said its 104 legislators are 'united' and will camp in the national capital.
Yeddyurappa assertion comes hours after Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stuck to his allegation that the BJP was trying to lure MLAs of the ruling combine and expressed confidence that none of them would switch sides.
"It is not us, but they (JDS-Congress) have started horse trading. We will stay in Delhi one or two days because Kumaraswamy is trying his level best to contact our MLAs and horse trading has started," Yeddyurappa told reporters after meeting state BJP MLAs and MPs in New Delhi.
The BJP is 'alert and careful' as the chief minister is trying to lure our MLAs using 'power and money', he said.
"Kumaraswamy is trying to contact BJP MLAs and has offered a ministerial post to a Kalburgi MLA," he alleged and said the ruling combine is luring BJP state legislators despite having majority numbers.
The Karnataka MLAs had come to attend the two-day BJP national convention that concluded on Saturday. They stayed back to discuss separately the state developments, including the alleged horse trading by the ruling combine.
Asserting that the BJP's house was in order, Yeddyurappa said, "Our MLAs are united and intact. We do not have any problem at all. Our MLAs are saying let us stay here for 2-3 days and then go to our constituencies."
There will not be any 'resort politics' and all the BJP legislators will stay together at the Karnataka Bhavan and some may visit Gurgoan and come back, he added.
Stating that the ruling coalition government lacks unity, Yeddyurappa said, "They (JDS-Congress) are worried themselves. Three days back, the chief minister had said he does not have any power and cannot transfer a single official."
The present government is not functioning at all in the state, which is facing drought in 160 tehsils and there are reports of farmers' suicides, he alleged.
"There is no development in the state. They have wasted time in the last nine months. None of the departments are functioning properly. There is no unity among them," he said.
Asked if he was desperate to become a chief minister, the state BJP chief said that the question does not arise as the party is more focused about the general elections and is in the process of finalising candidates at the earliest for 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
"Now, we are worried about Parliament elections. We must win at least 20 seats...We have started our campaign. We are going to finalise the candidates as early as possible," he added.
The state BJP chief said that the issues related to the Lok Sabha elections were discussed in detail since Sunday.
"We have received several suggestions. In a day or two, we will go to the state and begin the work in constituencies. We have got a direction from the BJP national president and we will implement it at the ground level," Yeddyurappa added.
Rubbishing reports about the BJP attempting 'Operation Lotus' to topple the government, Yeddyurappa said there was no truth in it and alleged that the Congress-JD(S) combine was trying to lure opposition MLAs.
He also clarified that BJP MLAs were camping in New Delhi to discuss the strategy for Lok Sabha polls and the party was not indulging in any 'resort politics'.
"Despite having majority, the Congress-JD(S) combine is trying to lure our MLAs and indulging in horse-trading, BJP is not doing it. We with 104 MLAs are ready to work as opposition peacefully," Yeddyurappa told reporters in New Delhi.
Accusing the Congress-JD(S) coalition of trying to create confusion, he asked the ruling alliance to focus on developmental works and said the BJP was ready to function as a 'sincere' opposition.