Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Sep 23: It seems that the 'Operation Kamala' conducted by BJP in the state is not to bring down the coalition government but to win the three seats in the upcoming legislative council elections.

It is said that five MLAs each of Congress and JD (S) have already been paid Rs five crore each by the BJP as advance and three to five more legislators of the ruling coalition are being enticed by BJP with monetary gains.

At present BJP has a strength of 104 members in the legislative assembly. If they get the support of eight more MLAs, the can easily win the three legislative council seats. So the operation is on to get this done. It is learnt that once this trick is successful, then a master plan to bring down the coalition government is also made ready.

In the legislative assembly the total number so seats is 224. Out of this Ramanagar and Jamakandi legislative constituencies are vacant now. So there are 222 MLAs. If the numbers of BJP reach 112, then the strength of members of Congress - JD (S) will come down to 110. Then BJP can easily win three MLC seats. This is the calculation behind 'Operation MLC' of the BJP as per the sources.

Secret Ballot procedure will be followed for the election of MLCs from the legislative assembly. Therefore, it will not be known even if the MLAs of Congress and JD (S) cross vote for BJP. Their membership also will not be in any trouble. Therefore the stage is set for BJP to play its tricks on the legislators of the ruling coalition government.

It is said that the MLAs of Congress and JD (S), who have already received an advance of Rs five crores, have assured the BJP leaders that they will cast their vote for the BJP MLC candidates. However, they have urged the BJP leaders not to reveal their names. The sources also said that they have taken on oath in the name of God and their family members that they will definitely vote for BJP.

As a separate notification is sent to fill the three seats of legislative council from the legislative assembly each candidate may require at least 111 to 112 votes. So BJP has set a target of 112. It is said that BJP had contacted 10 MLAs of the ruling coalition including a minister.

The sources are saying that the aspirants who want to become MLCs on BJP ticket have already invested the money required to buy the ruling coalition MLAs and paid them in advance. The aim of the leaders of state BJP is to attract more ruling coalition MLAs by offering bait of money as per the confirmation given by sources close to the party. However, it is also learnt that the Congress and JD (S) are trying to keep their legislators under control as the ruling coalition will be in danger if their legislators cross-vote and defeat the official candidates of the ruling party.