Kumaraswamy accuses BJP of offering Rs 100 crore each to his party’s MLAs

Bengaluru, May 16

Janata Dal (Secular) leader Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore each and cabinet posts to its newly elected legislators in a “desperate” attempt to form a government in Karnataka.

“Our legislators have been offered Rs 100 crore each and cabinet seats by the BJP in return for support,” the former chief minister alleged at a press conference.

The JD (S) leader named Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for the offer as the BJP, he said, was desperate to form a government and deny the JD (S) a chance to form a government with Congress backing.

“This attempt by the BJP to poach our legislators will backfire as there are people who are willing to leave the BJP to support us (JD-S),” Kumaraswamy said.

The JD (S) and Congress together had the required majority to form the government, he said.

“We will be meeting the Governor again on Wednesday evening to urge him to give us a chance to form the government as we have the majority of MLAs.”

Accusing the BJP of using the central government machinery to target opposition leaders, Kumaraswamy denied meeting any BJP leader, but admitted that many newly elected legislators from the BJP and Congress were in touch with him on government formation.

HD Kumaraswamy is staking claiming to form the state government with Congress support.

Saturday’s election threw up a hung Assembly, with the BJP finishing with the largest number of seats at 104 but short of a majority. The Congress with 78 and the JD (S) with 38 came took second and third spots.