A political controversy has broken out in Karnataka after Janata Dal (Secular) MLA M.T. Krishnappa alleged that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar offered him ₹500 crore to join the Congress party.
Krishnappa said he rejected the offer and made the revelation at a public meeting held at C.S Pura of Turuvekere Assembly constituency on Tuesday evening. The programme was organised to unveil statue of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda.
Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was also present there when Krishnappa made this sensational statement. His statement has created political ripples in Karnataka because it is about allegations of huge financial offer being made to an opposition legislator for switching political parties.
However, the allegation has not been independently established and D.K. Shivakumar has neither confirmed nor denied the claimed ₹500 crore offer. But his statement has added another flashpoint to the ongoing rivalry between Congress and JD(S)-BJP alliance in Karnataka.
Speaking at the programme M.T Krishnappa reportedly said that D K Shivakumar had called him and former minister G T Deve Gowda to join Congress and told them to listen to Chief Minister. He (Shivakumar) asked both of us whether we wanted to come into the ruling party and if so then listen to the Chief Minister, the JD(S) MLA alleged.
The JD(S) MLA claimed he was not interested in accepting the invitation but made it clear during the interaction that he would rather leave politics than join Congress. Krishnappa’s statement seemed to indicate that despite attempts to persuade him to change political allegiance he was determined to remain with the JD(S). That he publicly discussed the alleged political offer before Kumaraswamy has made the statement all the more significant for the region.
The figure of ₹500 crore has become the most talked about part of Krishnappa’s statement. The amount is huge and naturally political observers and people are talking about it. If true, this allegation could raise serious questions about political negotiations and attempts to influence elected representatives.
But let us not confuse a political leader’s public claim with fact. Krishnappa has said so but clarification or response from Deputy Chief Minister would be required to establish what was said in that alleged conversation. Congress leadership has also not been quoted confirming the claims in information available so far.
The event where Krishnappa made the remarks was held in C.S Pura in Turuvekere Assembly constituency to unveil a statue of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy was also present at the function. Deve Gowda is still influential in Karnataka politics and continues to be an important symbol for JD(S).
Kumaraswamy (now Union Minister) has been very active in party political activities and its alliance with BJP. Krishnappa’s comments at an event for Deve Gowda could therefore be construed as strong public re-affirmation of his association with the regional party.
In the same programme Krishnappa also talked about the political future of NDA in Karnataka. He said that an NDA government would come to power in the state in future and that it could win between 160 and 185 Assembly seats.
This is what JD(S) leaders have expressed confidence over in the coming elections that BJP-JD(S) alliance will do well. But seat numbers are political expectations not confirmed electoral outcomes; actual result will depend on voter preferences, candidate selection, alliance arrangements, campaign strategies and political developments in the state.
The comments also highlight the ongoing competition between Congress and NDA alliance to strengthen their positions in Karnataka. The Congress is currently governing the state while BJP and JD(S) have been together challenging the ruling party.
Allegations of attempts to woo opposition legislators through political negotiations have often become part of state’s political discourse. Krishnappa’s claim has given another dimension to these discussions because he has named the Deputy Chief Minister directly and mentioned an extraordinary amount.
The next few days will see more political reactions to Krishnappa’s statement if D.K. Shivakumar or Congress leadership responds to the allegation; if JD(S) and BJP political meetings turn into a talking point as alliance tries to consolidate its position in Karnataka.
Till then M.T. Krishnappa’s claim that he rejected an alleged ₹500 crore offer and prediction of NDA winning with 160-185 seats have become major talking points in state politics. Will the allegation lead to political confrontation or official response?
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