BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra claimed on Monday that over 25 Congress MLAs, including Ministers, are set to join the BJP whenever elections are held for the State Assembly.
Speaking to mediapersons in Bengaluru, Mr. Vijayendra said politics in Karnataka had “stooped to a new low” following allegations of politicians resorting to sting operations to come to power. Describing this as “political debauchery”, he said those behind such unethical practices would be held accountable for their actions in the days to come.
Mr. Vijayendra alleged that the Congress government had raised the issue of sting operations only to cover up its own financial distress, which had come in the way of providing adequate drought relief to farmers. Taking exception to the government announcing compensation of a mere ₹2,500 as drought relief, he said even that amount had not yet reached farmers.
He said that instead of admitting that the government was financially bankrupt, the Congress dispensation was trying to escape responsibility by blaming the Centre for everything.
Referring to the Congress campaign against the SIR and its protest in Delhi, Mr. Vijayendra alleged that the party was conspiring to “create chaos” in the country on the lines of what happened in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He said the people of India would not play into the hands of the Congress.
Taking exception to the Congress trying to meet the Chief Justice of India over the SIR issue, he wondered how the CJI could meet anyone on a matter that was being looked into by the court.
He argued that the Congress should come to power in the State and the country by winning the confidence of the people instead of “creating chaos”, if it had self-respect and dignity.
Why wait for polls, do it now, dares CM
“Why should the BJP wait till the polls if it is confident that our MLAs are set to join its fold? Let them not waste any time and immediately make arrangements for the inclusion of our MLAs into its fold,” Mr. Shivakumar told mediapersons in Delhi.
Ridiculing NDA leaders in Karnataka, he said both Mr. Vijayendra and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy were unable to identify even the 12 legislators from their own parties who had cross-voted in favour of Congress candidates in earlier Legislative Council elections. “That being the case, they are speaking of the possibility of Congress MLAs joining the BJP. These 12 legislators from the NDA fold cross-voted because they were not happy with the NDA,” he said.
Published - October 12, 2026 08:07 pm IST