JD(S) leader Kumaraswamysaid the BJP resorting to "horsetrading" by trying to lure his party MLAs with money.
JD (S) Chief Minister hopeful HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday alleged that the BJP was "horsetrading" by trying to lure his party MLAs by spending Rs 100 crore and offering them cabinet posts.
The BJP has denied the allegation saying the Rs 100 crore figure is "imaginary."
After his unanimous election as the JD (S) legislature party leader at the party meeting held at a five star hotel in Bengaluru, Kumarswamy said, "BJP is quite desperate to buy JD(S) legislators and bribe them. I question, where is this money coming from? What is the Income Tax department doing? I urge Karnataka people to understand what is happening. They have all the money in Delhi."
Kumaraswamy then posed a question to the President of India and Prime Minister. "I appeal to the president and PM Narendra Modi whether they are promoting horse trading?"
On 'missing' JD(S) MLAs, Kumaraswamy told the reporters that "they are coming."
"If BJP poaches JD(S) legislators, I will poach their legislators," he declared.
Kumarswamy said he will protect the interest of the party and its legislators.
"BJP is in a hurry mode. They need another 9 MLAs for a majority. Congress and JD(S) already have the required numbers. We are at 116. Despite not having the number, BS Yeddyurappa (BJP's chief ministerial candidate) still went ahead and staked the claim to form the government. We have to question their intention," said Kumaraswamy.
However, Kumarswamy clarified that his party was not in hurry. "I am totally a free man. I am not worried about any development," he said adding that Congress and JD(S) have submitted a letter to the Governor showing support.
"We will meet the Governor once again along with state Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara,'" Kumarswamy said.
He thanked the Congress party for extending an unconditional support.
He at the same time announced that the JD(S) wwould never ally with the BJP.
"BJP's Operation Kamla (lotus) will boomerang. JD(S) and Congress has a mandate," he said.
Rejecting the charses of money being offered to JD(S) MLAs, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the BJP does not indulge in "horsetrading" and the claim of money being offered is "imaginary."
"They are leveling baseless charges against BJP. Poaching&horse trading is not done by BJP, Congress is famous for it. Their own MLAs are not happy with their alliance," Javadekar said. "Rs 100 crore figure is not only imaginary but it is what Congress-JDS do politics through."
As the Karnataka Assembly polls gave a fractured verdict on Tuesday, JD(S) and Congress came together and petitioned Governor Vajubhai Vala to allow the combine to form a government.
Elections for 222 of 224 Karnataka assembly seats were held on May 12 while polling for the remaining two will be held later. The BJP bagged 104 seats, Congress got 78 and the JD(S) secured win on 37 seats. A party has to secure minimum 112 seats for a simple majority in the Assembly.
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 "JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy")
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