Operation Lotus lures another Congress legislator

Bangalore, Nov 6 (UNI) Congress legislator Prakash Hukkeri's presence at 'Keshava Shilpa', the State Headquarters of RSS, raised many eyebrows but it was only part of 'Operation Lotus' launched by the BJP.

Mr Hukkeri was seen with the BJP leaders during a function in the city tonight. He was escorted by Belgaum BJP MP Suresh Angadi.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa accorded him a welcome and spoke to him for some time.

Under the operation, the saffron party had already lured seven legislators -- four from the Janata Dal(S) and three from Congress in its bid to gain a majority of its own.

In the May elections it had just fallen short of scoring a majority winning 110 seats in the 224-seat Assembly.

UNI MV RS SB AS2217