The BJP today alleged that 12 of its MLAs were "forcibly" taken to an unknown destination by JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, local Congress leaders and plainclothes policemen from a hotel in Goa.
Till this afternoon BJP leaders at the Centre and in Karnataka were claiming the crisis had blown over and BJP would prove its majority in the assembly on October 11. However, the incident in Goa forced the central leadership to discuss the crisis afresh.
"Some of our (rebel) MLAs staying in Goa had expressed their support to the Yeddyurappa government. But while they were preparing to leave for Bangalore in the afternoon, Kumaraswamy - along with some Congress leaders and plainclothes policemen - forcibly took them to an unknown destination," BJP spokesperson Ramnath Kovind told reporters in New Delhi at a hurriedly called press conference.
He claimed that senior BJP leader were in touch with this group of 14 MLAs till this afternoon and after talks they had pledged their support to the Karnataka government. The rebel MLAs were staying in a luxury hotel in Goa.
"Two of our MLAs in this group - MP Renukacharya and another - managed to evade Kumaraswamy and others," Kovind said.
Incidentally, Renukacharya - who is excise minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet - was leading the rebel camp.
Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu - who is in Bangalore to handle this crisis along with Manohar Parikkar - informed party president Nitin Gadkari about the Goa incident. BJP general secretary Jaiprakash Nadda was also involved in the discussions.
"JD(S) and Congress are using all undemocratic means -from money power to muscle power - to destabilise the government. We strongly condemn this attempt to murder democracy," Kovind said.
Nadda maintained that despite these, attempts BJP government will prove its majority in the assembly at 11am on October 11.
Exuding the same confidence, Kovind said, "Despite these conspiracies and games that Congress and JD(S) are trying they will not succeed."
BJP needs 113 MLAs to win a majority in the 224-member Karnataka assembly. It had the support of 122 MLAs (including 5 independents), till 14 party MLAs and five independent legislators rebelled last week.
