After arrest of DKS, BJP gears up for a massive ‘Operation Lotus’ in Karnataka to kill the Opposition

Bengaluru, Sept 6: After the arrest of Congress trouble-shooter D K Shivakumar by the Enforcement Directorate, the Bharatiya Janata Party is reportedly gearing up for a large scale ‘Operation Lotus’ in Karnataka with dozens of legislators from two main opposition parties of the state – the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) receiving offer from the Amit Shah led saffron party.

If sources are to be believed, BJP is all set to poach the Opposition MLAs ahead of the winter session of the state legislature. The plan is aimed at destroying the strength of the Opposition parties that are already under shock after Central agencies started targeting their leaders.

In Karnataka, the ruling BJP already enjoys a slender majority in the 224-member Assembly, whose strength has reduced to 207 following the resignations of 17 MLAs — 14 from Congress (including KPJP MLA R Shankar) and three from the JD(S).

This time the BJP is likely to target more number of JD(S) leaders. The list includes former minister G T Devegowda, Srirangapatna MLA Ravindra Srikantaiah, Nagamangala MLA Suresh Gowda, Tumkur Rural MLA D C Gowrishankar and Gurmitkal MLA Naganagouda Kandkur and H K Kumaraswamy, current JD(S) president and five-time MLA from Sakleshpur constituency. The targeted Congress leaders include Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra and Hagaribommanahalli MLA Bheema Naik.