Ex-BJP minister S T Somashekar meets Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah amid buzz about 'Operation Hasta'
Bengaluru, Aug 20: Amid buzz over 'Operation Hasta' doing rounds regarding certain BJP legislators in Karnataka willing to go back to their "mother party", BJP MLA and former minister S T Somashekar on Sunday met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Earlier in the day, party hopper Ayanur Manjunath, currently with JD(S), called on Deputy Chief Minister and Congress state chief D K Shivakumar.
Somashekar said in a statement that his meeting with Siddaramaiah was regarding a discussion on "development of his constituency".
The BJP MLA from Yashwanthpur constituency in the city met the Chief Minister at his residence.
ALSO READ: Ruling Congress in Karnataka to hold all-party meeting to discuss Cauvery on Aug 23
Later, he said the meeting was regarding the need for a maternity hospital at Sir M Visvesvaraya Layout on a civic amenity plot and a flyover for Kengeri Satellite Town.
Somashekar has been hobnobbing with Congress leaders. Recently, he hailed Shivakumar and called him his "political guru".
Meanwhile, reacting to his meeting with Manjunath, Shivakumar said many people meet him. However, he said he cannot explain why they were meeting him.
'Operation Hasta', meaning 'Operation Palm' is a term that has gained significance now as it is said to be a drive to bring BJP leaders and legislators to the Congress fold.
Palm is the Congress's party symbol and 'Operation Hasta' is said to be in retaliation to the BJP's 'Operation Lotus' in 2019 when 17 Congress and JD(S) legislators jumped ship to join the BJP.
'Operation Lotus' had resulted in the toppling of the short-lived coalition government of Congress and the JD(S).
With rumours doing rounds that many BJP legislators and leaders are said to be in touch with Congress leaders, the BJP has started an exercise to keep its flock together. It is persuading its disgruntled MLAs who are said to have one foot out the door.
Two days ago, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said he had spoken to the BJP MLAs and former ministers Shivaram Hebbar and Munirathna.
"I spoke to them and they clearly said they are not going to quit the party. We have brought the local problems to the notice of our party president. That will be solved. We will remain united," Bommai told reporters.
An angry rebuttal to 'Operation Hasta' came from former minister and BJP national general secretary C T Ravi who said he knew how to "operate the palm".
Reacting to it, Shivakumar on Sunday said: "C T Ravi is giving us a threat that he will chop off the palm. What happened when you (BJP) took away Congress and JD(S) MLAs? When you can threaten others, others also know how to threaten you. You brought down the coalition government to form yours."
He clarified that he is not calling anyone to join the Congress and there was no need now in the party.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Priyanka Gandhi takes oath as LS MP after big win from Wayanad
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took oath as a Lok Sabha MP on Thursday following her thumping victory from Kerala's Wayanad in a bypoll.
The 52-year-old, who joins her mother Sonia and brother Rahul as an MP in what is a rare instance of three members of a family together in Parliament, took affirmation in Hindi while holding a copy of the Constitution soon after the House met.
Ravindra Chavan (Cong), who won the Nanded bypoll also took oath in Marathi in the name of God. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of his father Vasantrao Chavan recently.
Priyanka Gandhi took the plunge into active politics in 2019 and was later appointed Congress general secretary. Five years after that, Priyanka Gandhi begins her journey as an elected representative of the people.
With a winning margin of more than 4.1 lakh votes, she surpassed the tally of her brother Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala.
Priyanka Gandhi's entry into Parliament comes at a difficult time for the party, which has been jolted by electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra. It would be interesting to see if she is able to give a much-needed fillip to the grand old party and help put it back on the electoral track.
Often drawing comparisons with her grandmother Indira Gandhi for their similarity in looks and way of speaking, Priyanka Gandhi has been the go-to campaigner for the party since her entry into active politics and even before that when she campaigned for her mother Sonia and brother Rahul.
Congress leaders from Wayanad handed over the election certificate of the Wayanad parliamentary by-election to Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday and conveyed their best wishes.
Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday won the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll with a thumping margin of over four lakh votes, defeating Sathyan Mokeri of the CPI(M)-led LDF.
VIDEO | Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) takes oath as Lok Sabha MP from Kerala's #Wayanad.#ParliamentWinterSession
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 28, 2024
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/4JbL0KaShE
further details are awaited.
