Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy | Photo Credit: ANI

Bengaluru: In a massive setback to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, two Independent MLAs have withdrawn their support to the state government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. The Independent MLAs are H Nagesh and R Shankar. Meanwhile, sources also claimed that four Congress MLAs were likely to resigns tomorrow (Wednesday) while the BJP was said to be keeping a close watch on its own MLAs camped up in Gurugram.

The development came even as the ruling coalition and opposition BJP traded charges over alleged poaching of MLAs. The fresh political war erupted just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, due in April-May.

"Today is Makar Sankranti, and on this day we want a change in the government. The government should be efficient, so I am withdrawing my support (to the Karnataka government) today," Independent MLA R Shankar said.

"My support to the coalition government was to provide a good and stable government, which utterly failed. There is no understanding among coalition partners. So, I have decided to go with the BJP to install a stable government and see that the government performs better than the coalition," H Nagesh said.

Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, however, maintained that the alliance was stable. "We have been saying that the BJP is luring our MLAs through money and power but their attempts to destabilise the government will fail... Our government is stable," he told reporters.

2 Independent MLAs, H Nagesh and R Shankar, withdraw their support from Karnataka govt. pic.twitter.com/C34u3BNFOb — ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2019

It has been reported that six to eight Congress MLAs are willing to defect and join the BJP. Some legislators of the ruling coalition are not reachable. CM Kumaraswamy had earlier expressed confidence that he has "sufficient numbers" and the government would survive any threat.

Latest developments

In a sensational development, sources said that 4 Congress MLAs were planning to resign tomorrow (Wednesday). Sources also said that the BJP was keeping a close eye on its MLAs which are currently camping in a Gurugram resort.

Karnataka minister Zameer Ahmed Khan on Tuesday reacted to reports of a few Congress-JD(S) MLAs camping in Mumbai after being 'lured' by the BJP. He claimed that the MLAs were in Mumbai for their holidays. He said, "Our MLAs went to Mumbai for holidays, they'll be back by tomorrow. As per media, the number is increasing but according to us, it's decreasing. For us, it has come down to 2 from 15-16. Akalmand ko ishaara kaafi hai."

War of words between the BJP and the Congress continue in Karnataka amid allegations of 'poaching' of MLAs. Earlier today, former CM Siddaramaiah had hit out at PM Narendra Modi and the Karnataka unit of BJP over reports of Congress MLAs being lured to jump ship. In a tweet, Siddaramaiah had said that BJP had a "legacy of Gandha Niyat, Resort Vikas' and slammed Modi for "allowing disgraceful BJP Karnataka leaders" to "destabilise" government. Following this, Karnataka BJP hit out at Siddaramaiah. In a tweet addressing Siddaramaiah, it said, "Your greed to have control over Congress is today backfiring."

Senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa is said to have spoken to BJP MLAs, amid the ongoing political turmoil in the state, sources said. Yeddyurappa is learnt to have told the BJP MLAs that the "deal was sealed" and the several Congress leaders were "unhappy" with the party leadership.

With no clear clarity about which way the political winds are blowing in Karnataka, the BJP is learnt to have given strict instructions to its leaders to keep their strategies "a secret." Sources from the BJP camp said that the top leadership of the party has instructed its leaders and spokespersons to refrain from revealing the party's strategies and planning to the media.

Amid Karnataka crisis, a BJP leader made a big declaration on Tuesday claiming that the saffron party would "form the government in Karnataka in 2-3 days." Maharashtra cabinet minister Ram Shinde said that BJP was treated "unfairly" during Karnataka elections - when Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government despite BJP emerging as the single largest party - and said that the party would be in power in the state in a couple of days. Speaking on the two Independent MLAs withdrawing support to the Kumaraswamy government, Shinde said, "They must have thought that they should join BJP that received the mandate instead of those who formed an unnatural alliance. I'm getting a feeling that Operation Lotus will be successful in the coming days."

BJP will form the government in Karnataka in the next 2-3 days, BJP MLA Ram Shinde #GathbandhanCrisis pic.twitter.com/E5L7baQZvz — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 15, 2019

On the other hand, the BJP was also said to be concerned about keeping its flock together as sources said that Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was reportedly in touch with some of the MLAs of the party. Earlier today, two independent MLAs withdrew support from the Kumaraswamy party, calling it "unstable".

In perhaps more trouble for the Congress, sources said a Congress MLA was ready to jump ship to the BJP. Meanwhile, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy downplayed the withdrawal of support by two independent MLAs, saying "Two MLAs won't make a difference."

Few Congress MLAs from Karnataka reportedly met BJP leaders in Mumbai while former Karnataka chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday chaired a meeting with state Members of Legislative Assembly in the National Capital Region's Gurugram amid allegations by the ruling coalition government in the state that the BJP is 'poaching' its MLAs to topple the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government.

The BJP has been miffed with the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka ever since they lost the Assembly polls last year, also calling Kumaraswamy incompetent for not being able to address issues such as farm loan waivers. The JD(S) won 37 seats in the 2018 assembly polls.

On Monday, reports had stated that Yeddyurappa had rounded up all the saffron party MLAs in the state and the delegation was reportedly heading towards an “undisclosed” location in Haryana, which today was proven right. The development came after the Congress-JD(S) government in the state alleged that the BJP was trying to “poach” its MLAs. Meanwhile, there are also reports that three Congress MLAs from the state are believed to be in a Mumbai hotel.

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Zameer Ahmed, Congress: 4-5 of our party MLAs are in Mumbai. We will not sit silently if attempts of poaching are made, even we are in touch with some BJP MLAs. We had talked with 2-3 of our MLAs while other MLAs' phones are off. I can assure you no one will leave. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/gt8CpviRnH — ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2019

BJP Senior Leader Shobha Karandlaje has reached Gurugram Hotel where 104 BJP MLAs are present @wajihulla with details #KamalaPoachingRow pic.twitter.com/OtftruwSqL — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 15, 2019

Kumaraswamy had stressed last month that the alliance between his Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress party was strong “as a rock”, amid claims by the opposition BJP that the coalition government could collapse anytime.

In December, a senior BJP MLA from the state claimed that 15 disgruntled MLAs from the ruling Congress-JD (S) government were ready to cross over to the BJP. Umesh Katti on December 26 said that 15 ruling alliance legislators were in touch with him, adding that the BJP would welcome them if they decide to join the party.

Quashing rumours of poaching by the BJP, Karnataka minister and Congress leader D K Shivakumar today said no Congress MLAs in the state have gone astray. Speaking to news agency ANI, Shivakumar said, "Our MLAs are with us...we are answerable to the people of the constituency... They are not doing any dirty politics." He also alleged that the BJP was creating political unrest in the country over 'mahagathbandhan'.

Shivakumar, who is the Karnataka Water Resources Minister, had alleged on Sunday that the BJP was indulging in horse-trading and had also “lured” three of its MLAs to a Mumbai hotel. He had also claimed that the BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ was real and that the saffron party was planning to overthrow the HD Kumaraswamy’s government. Operations Lotus’ referred to BJP’s alleged move to get some of the Opposition MLAs to defect in 2008 in order to ensure that the then Yeddyurappa government was not challenged.

Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah also slammed the BJP, accusing it of being guilty of power hungry tactics. "The BJP people are always after power, they don't respect the Constitution and don't believe in democracy. They want to topple the Congress-JD(S) government. This is a dream that will not happen," he said, adding "they (the BJP) have tried everything including offering huge money but they will not succeed".

Some Congress-JD(S) MLAs were also said to be in Delhi on Monday and were reportedly supposed to meet BJP leaders on January 19, sources told Times Now.

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