Former Karnataka Chief Minister and CLP leader Siddaramaiah today slammed BJP for criticising Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar’s decision to disqualify 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs for defying party whip from abstaining from Assembly session when former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had moved Confidence Motion last week.
Speaking to reporters before the Assembly Session began on Monday, Siddaramaiah questioned why should BJP feel bad as they were not the members of that party.
He alleged that the BJP unleashing ‘operation lotus’ to lure legislators from ruling parties and had conspired to trigger the fall of JD(S)-Congress coalition government. This had led to the rebels being disqualified and BJP was benefited by it.
‘’When we see these developments, it is evident that BJP was behind the 17 legislators quit their seats to help the BJP. This was nothing but a conspiracy hatched by the BJP. The dissident legislators have learnt a bitter lesson as they cannot contest election or hold any public position till 2023,’’ he added. (UNI)