BJP offering money to lure party MLAs, says Congress

The Congress in Karnataka on Monday charged the ruling BJP with offering money to the tune of Rs 50 crore to its MLAs to engineer defection and threatened to launch a state-wide stir to expose the horse trading.

Opposition Congress leader in the state Assembly Siddaramaiah alleged that 53 of its 73 MLAs have been offered money and a ministerial berth by BJP leaders.

"None of our MLAs are ready to defect. We are all united. Some MLAs whom the BJP leaders contacted over phone have recorded the conversation.We will soon make them public," Siddaramaiah told reporters after presiding over the Legislature Party meeting here.

Rahim Khan, MLA from Bidar, alleged he was also contacted by BJP men.

Siddaramaiah said the meeting condemned the reported call given by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and BJP state unit President K S Eswarappa to convert the minority status of its govenment to a majority.

"The Congress will reveal the proof on horse trading to media and also submit it to Governor H R Bhardwaj," Congress Working President D K Shivakumar said.

The Centre will also be approached seeking legal action against defections being enouraged by the BJP, he said.

The CLP, which met this morning ahead of the High Court taking up for hearing petitions filed by five independent MLAs challenging their disqualification, will again meet tomorrow to discuss the political situation in the state.