After Karnataka, Congress Alleges Horse Trading by BJP in Madhya Pradesh

The Congress unseated the BJP in the state after 15 years by winning 114 seats, two short of a majority, in the 230-member House in the Assembly polls held in November.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Karnataka by charges of horse trading flung at each other by the ruling coalition and BJP, the Congress has alleged the saffron party of horse trading attempts in Madhya Pradesh.

However, exuding confidence that the Kamal Nath-led state government is safe, minister P C Sharma said, “They have gone berserk after losing 3 states. Lok Sabha elections are coming up. If they lose, they’ll stay out for a long time. They’re trying horse trading even in MP. It’s MP, all those with Congress are standing with them, be it SP, BSP or independent.”

Times of India, in its report, quoted Congress sources saying that while the BJP knows that it is making failed attempts in Karnataka, the party will make a “real push to topple us in Bhopal”.

Reacting to the reports, Chief Minister Kamal Nath warned the BJP to “protect its own house” and not bother about the Congress government.

Earlier this month, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had claimed the BJP had offered “Rs 100 crore” to a Congress MLA in Madhya Pradesh to topple the Kamal Nath government.

The Congress unseated the BJP in the state after 15 years by winning 114 seats, two short of a majority, in the 230-member House in the Assembly polls held in November. It, however, reached the majority mark with the support of Bahujan Samaj Party and Samaj Party. The BJP has 109 MLAs.

Meanwhile, in Karnataka, two Independent MLAs withdrew their support to the Congress-JDS coalition government on Tuesday even as reports are rife that six disgruntled Congress MLAs may tender their resignation.

While H D Kumaraswamy has claimed that his government is safe, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on Tuesday held a meeting with him after discussions with former chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, senior minister D K Shivakumar, home minister M B Patil and other party functionaries over fears ‘Operation Lotus’ taking shape.