BJP-Cong slugfest in feverish pitch ahead of candidate lists' release

The BJP and Congress have been trading charges of poaching ahead of the Karnataka elections which will be held on May 10.

Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai said that Karnataka's Congress president, D K Shivakumar has been making calls to BJP MLAs asking them to switch sides.

Bommai said that he has information that calls are being made by Shivakumar to the BJP MLAs. The Congress recently announced its first list of candidates. The party is yet to announce the names of 100 more candidates.

Horticulture Minister, Munirathna backed this claim by the chief minister and said that the the Congress was especially in touch with 17 MLAs who had switched sides in 2019 and backed the BJP, which eventually went on to form the government.

Incidentally Munirathna is one of those 17 MLAs.

"They somehow want to get the 17 leaders back. I will quit politics, but not the BJP. The Congress did not treat us with respect when we were with them. The BJP has given us respect," he said.

These allegations were however denied by Shivakumar.

"They are lining up before us. I am not calling anyone. We have no space to accommodate them. The BJP, which formed the government with the Congress and JD(S) legislators have no moral authority to criticise poaching," Shivakumar said.

Ahead of the elections, former ministers, Varthur Prakash, Pramod Madhwaraj, former MP S P Muddahanumegowda, ex-MLA K S Manjunath Gowda, were among others who joined the BJP.

The Congress on the other hand inducted BJP's Baburao Chinchansur and Puttana into its fold. The two had resigned as Members of the Legislative Council. Former MP Manjunath Kannur, former MLA M C Sudhakar and leader leader, B L Devaraj also joined the Congress.

Housing Minister, V Somanna was also keen on joining the Congress, but he decided to stay back in the BJP.

The trading allegations are at a feverish pitch in Karnataka as all parties are yet to release their complete list of candidates. The Congress had last week release its list of 124 candidates, in which it was announced that former chief minister, Siddaramaiah would contest from Varuna. The JD(S) has announced the names of 93 candidates, while the BJP is expected to make its announcement on April 7 or 8.

BJP MLA from Bijapur city Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said it would be foolish to jump to the Congress at this stage. Initially the poll predictions showed that the Congress was leading, but today the tables have turned and the BJP is expected to win at least 120 seats, he said.

Bommai asserted that the the Congress has intentionally held back its list of 100 candidates. Shivakumar is calling BJP MLAs. This shows their level of desperation and that they do not have strong candidates, he also said.