No to horse-trading, poaching, suitcase, corrupt & resort politics

Created: Wed, Oct 20, 2010 Updated: Wed, Oct 20, 2010 @ 08:45 hrs
http://www.petitiononline.com/poaching/
Video links:
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ktaka-expose-tape-reveals-open-sale-of-bjp-mlas/132744-37-64.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/14-rebel-bjp-mlas-jds-mla-arrive-in-chennai/132757-37-64.html
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/no-to-crime-corruption-in-politics/
Petition Photo: http://static.ibnlive.com/pix/sitepix/10_2010/resourt_politics.jpg
Almost a recent trend in Indian political arena is lawmakers striking deals at expensive resorts. It's here that the horse trading happens. The entry of the big money into the politics has turned perhaps turned it into a big business. Here money comes first, ideology and loyalty often takes the back seat. As no one is complaining and everyone seems to benefit from this unusual Indian malady.

The world's biggest democracy (India) stands on a shaky foundation. Indian politicians have, after all, long indulged in, and often encouraged, a very undemocratic habit - the herding and whisking away of MLAs (Members of Legislative Assemblies) during periods of political instability and flux.

As people / voters / citizens have the right to elect their representatives, they should also have the right to recall / dismiss them.

The politicians and political parties have reduced constitutional morality to cinders.

The Karnataka 'natak' / 'nataka' / drama was till recently unfolding at a luxury resort in Goa where BJP rebel MLAs were on auction in October 2010. The Karnataka state first saw its MLAs taking yatra to expensive resorts across India 6 years ago in 2004 and since then there have been at least 5 revolts in the state. And the climax is always written at some resort in the country.

If you want progress, shut this open market of netas' loyalty - Times of India, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/to-the-point/entry/if-you-want-progress-shut-this-open-market-of-netas-loyalty
Guess which is the hottest job these days? That of a dissident neta or an Independent MLA. And if we're/one's with the ruling party that needs our/one's support badly, our/one's market value automatically shoots up. We'll be most sought-after. Seniors will make a beeline to pamper us. Rival parties will lure us into their camps. We'll have the best of both worlds. Everyone will tempt us with bags of money, time at exotic resorts, ministerial berths and lucrative posts. We'll be treated like kings / emperors. We just need to throw our ideologies to the winds. And, of course, play our cards well.

It's disgusting, but true. Karnataka has plenty of these aayarams and gayarams (opportunists / fence sitters). Across parties. They can do anything for power - switch loyalties, back-stab friends, form unholy alliances, and pull down governments... They care two hoots for voters who reposed trust in them. The welfare of the people is last on their agenda. Result: The state hasn't had a stable government for the last several years.

Sixteen MLAs, including five Independents, raised the banner of revolt against Yeddyurappa, just because some of them didn't get ministerial berths. They flew out of the state, moved from one exotic resort to another, rejected peace moves by party bosses, and hobnobbed with rival parties. Who funded their travel and stay? Definitely they wouldn't have spent from their pockets.

We, the helpless people Nov 2007
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/we-the-helpless-people/241979/0 
Is the Indian Constitution to be run on the increasingly popular principles of intrigue, deceit and moral bankruptcy? The Karnataka crisis celebrates the triumph of the avid greed for power over any and every kind of moral scruple.

Since 1967, Indian politics has been plagued by defections. The anti-defection law of 1985 as amended in 2003 did little to discipline floor crossings and suitcase politics. From Kihoto's case in 2002 to the UP judgment of 2007, the Supreme Court has failed to give a coherent interpretation to the anti-defection law.

Today, coalition politics is crucial to the working of the Constitution. Born of necessity, coalitions in India do not break down due to genuine reasons but are fuelled by the greed to grab power at all costs. Parties work to ruin their own governments and each other.

Is this what the world's largest and greatest democracy is about? People have become spectators to the antics of politicians. Are the people helpless? As people / voters / citizens have the right to elect their representatives, they should also have the right to recall / dismiss them.

The Karnataka crisis is the ultimate Denouement. The politicians and political parties have reduced constitutional morality to cinders.

In the '90s, the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao laid the foundation for suitcase politics and open-trading of MPs for the survival of the central / union government.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lets-resort-to-politics/articleshow/6721785.cms
Let's 'resort' to politics - The Times of India - October 10, 2010
The world's biggest democracy stands on a shaky foundation. Indian politicians have, after all, long indulged in, and often encouraged, a very undemocratic habit - the herding and whisking away of MLAs during periods of political instability and flux. The netas (leaders) may be bundled up, pushed around, forced into planes and fettered in hotels, but no one gets hurt.

In Karnataka State in October 2010
In the unfolding drama in Karnataka, which has come as the latest in the hoary, dubious tradition of resort politics, a minister who had initially led the revolt against the BS Yeddyurappa government, and is now suddenly back in the party fold, has just alleged  (on Oct 09, 2010) that "100 goons"  has/had forcibly taken away and kidnapped 13 MLAs. The Congress and JD(S) have/had been blamed for the crime. BJP dissidents and Congress MLAs, though under apparent house arrest, were being pampered. There are/were whispers that horse trading, as usual, has begun and it's anybody's guess what the inducements are/were. The going price for switching loyalties is/was said to be in the range of Rs 30-50 crore.

In Himachal Pradesh  in 1997
But one of the most bizarre cases has come from peaceful Himachal Pradesh. Many say an independent legislator was beaten up by both the Congress and BJP as part of a pressure tactic during the 1997 assembly election when there was a split verdict and the vote of the renegade MLA mattered most to both the big parties. He is said to have begged the governor to accept his resignation and free him from his miserable fate. What is known, however, is that Ramesh Dhwala, a legislator from Kangra, was virtually abducted by Congress workers as he was furtively heading to Shimla. The beleaguered MLA, promptly aligned with the BJP.

In Rajasthan in June 2010
In June 2010, the BJP in Rajasthan corralled its MLAs in an attempt to ensure winning numbers for its Rajya Sabha candidate Ram Jethmalani. The party's 66 MLAs were put up in a luxurious hotel - a comfortable place with AC, booze and good food is non-negotiable and legislators will merrily partake of this even while complaining of extreme duress - and even watched in their trunks the just-released Katrina Kaif -starrer 'Rajneeti'. It was a pirated CD and created another round of controversy.

In Jharkhand in 2003
MLAs here are in constant motion, either herded out or in. When a handful of MLAs led by JD(U) minister Lalchand Mahato toppled the first Babulal Marandi government in the state in 2003, the former packed all 41 legislators into an AC bus and set them off to an unknown destination. Though NDA and independent MLAs supporting Mahato smiled and waved to onlookers, they insisted they didn't know where they were headed. It was later revealed that they were going to the house of JD(U) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda in Bundu. Mounds of ''khassi bhaat'' (mutton-rice) was ready for the excited group in detention. They were looked after even better when news came in that BJP's crisis manager Rajnath Singh had arrived to look for a solution.

In Uttar Pradesh (UP) in October 1997
Mostly happy and hunky-dory, there have been times, though, when the situation has threatened to go out of hand - like in October 1997 when Mayawati broke the pact with BJP and withdrew support to the Kalyan Singh government. The 67 MLAs with her were kept in the fortress-like BSP headquarters with armed security guards monitoring all their movements till the vote-of-confidence.

In Gujarat in September 1995
Then there was the famous Khajuraho episode when, in September 1995, rebel BJP leader Shankersinh Vaghela, who wanted to topple Keshubhai Patel, diverted the road trip of 47 MLAs he had got together and put them in a plane to Madhya Pradesh. Vaghela put the MLAs in a five-star hotel for seven days and pictures of the legislators frolicking by the pool side were later splashed in most newspapers. One of the headlines read: Pot-bellied MLAs in bermudas.

In Haryana in 1982
As no one is complaining and everyone seems to benefit from this unusual Indian malady - some, in fact, seem to revel in this sticky terrain. When Devi Lal squirreled away 48 of his MLAs to a Delhi hotel in 1982 to keep them away from Bhajan Lal, one of the legislators actually escaped to the rival camp after sliding down the hotel's water pipe - the checks have been largely ineffective. As Prof Dipankar Gupta of JNU says with quiet resignation, ''This has become part of our politics.''

Welcome To Booty Zone - Outlook June 17, 2002
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?216098 
A peeved NCP-Congress ally pulled out, opening a season of defections and suitcase politics

BJP's New Year 2010 begins/began with usual 'resort politics'
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/new-year-begins-with-usual-resort-politics/564230/ 
After seeing the dawn of the New Year in the company of their families, BJP legislators were back to indulging in what is now popularly known in Bangalore as 'resort politics'. BJP legislators huddled together for the umpteenth time to thrash out ever erupting differences at a popular spa and resort owned by film-maker Sanjay Khan, located on the outskirts of Bangalore. The Karnataka BJP has already been in and out of the resort once in the 18 months since they came to power - having logged in for a brain storming session at the start of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's tenure. Different sets of BJP MLAs have also been in and out of resorts in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Goa over the last three months (Oct 2009 to Dec 2009), as the BJP has been rocked by rebellion.

BJP packs off MLAs to resort The Hindu Fri, Oct 08, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/08/stories/2010100862270800.htm 
80 MLAs, MLCs, MPs were taken to a resort
BJP rebels moved from Kochi to Goa
Resort politics was back in Karnataka with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party keeping its legislators in a luxury resort on the outskirts of Bangalore on Thu, Oct 07, 2010 in an effort to keep its flock together ahead of the first floor test scheduled on October 11/14, 2010.

About 80 MLAs, some MLCs and MPs first met at the official residence of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for breakfast. Later, they were taken to the resort.

'Resort-politics' back in Karnataka - October 07, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/102913/resort-politics-back-karnataka.html 
It is/was back to 'resort-politics' in Karnataka as the ruling BJP and the Opposition tried to keep their flock intact ahead of the crucial October 11/14 confidence motions as rival parties leveled allegations of horse-trading attempts.

The BJP, facing trouble after 18 MLAs withdrew support to the Yeddyurappa-led government yesterday, has/had whisked away all its loyalists to the Golden Palm Spa and Resort on the city outskirts.

For the BJP rebels, it has also been a case of hopping from city-to-city -- initially operating out of a star hotel in Chennai and then moving to Kochi and later to Goa via Mumbai. The Congress, on its part, was taking no chances and was keeping its legislators together in a resort near Devanahally on the city outskirts.

Last year (in 2009), 'resort politics' was on view with Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy leading the dissident campaign against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. However, the BJP high command stepped in to defuse the crisis.

In the 224-member Assembly, the BJP has a strength of 117 including Speaker,Congress 73, JDS 28, and Independents six.

Tape exposes open sale of BJP MLAs in K'taka - Oct 10, 2010
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ktaka-expose-tape-reveals-open-sale-of-bjp-mlas/132744-37-64.html 
Just 36 hours before the do-or-die trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly, horse trading was on in full swing. On Saturday, the BJP released an audio tape of how JDS's H D Kumaraswamy was allegedly heard offering a cabinet berth to a BJP MLA if he defected to his party.
Here is how the alleged conversation went:
H D Kumaraswamy: BJP MLA Shankaralinge Gowda claims that you are also interested. Why don't you come with us brother?
Appachchu Ranjan: For what? Why do you need me?
H D Kumaraswamy: I know BJP has not given you anything. You are a very senior MLA. Come with us. We will make you a Cabinet minister in our government. We will give you everything you want.
Appachchu Ranjan: No, I am not interested.
H D Kumaraswamy: Please think again. We might get 25-30 BJP MLAs before 11th October. The government will surely fall.

The latest development was that the rebel MLAs left for Chennai on a chartered flight.

Meanwhile 13 of the BJP rebels had been shepherded to Pune by the JD(S). This is the fifth time they had changed their 'hideout' in three days. Resort politics is not new to Indian politics.

Almost a recent trend in Indian political arena is lawmakers striking deals at expensive resorts. It's here that the horse trading happens. The Karnataka 'natak' was till recently unfolding at a luxury resort in Goa where BJP rebel MLAs were on auction.

The bidders are the powerful Bellary Reddy brothers and the inheritor of Gowda legacy, H D Kumaraswamy. Both are/were fighting over the same 13 MLAs, but the aim is/was exactly opposite -- Reddys wanted to save the government and Kumaraswamy wanted to topple it.

Karnataka's second resort politics was in October 2009
Last year (2009)  when the state's Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy lead the dissident campaign against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, he too went city hopping with his flock of MLAs.

Karnataka's first resort politics was in 2004
The Karnataka state first saw its MLAs taking yatra to expensive resorts across India 6 years ago in 2004 and since then there have been at least 5 revolts in the state. And the climax is always written at some resort in the country.

In Andhra Pradesh in 1984
It is not just a Karnataka-centric phenomenon. The first resort politics started in 1984 by N T Rama Rao the legendary Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh when his govt was dislodged, he flew to Karnataka with all his MLAs.

In Gujarat in 1995
In 1995, Shankar Singh Waghela repeated it in Gujarat, going city hopping.

In Maharasthra in 2003
In 2003 the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh ferried his Congress MLAs to Bangalore before the majority vote.

The entry of the big money into the politics has turned perhaps turned it into a big business. Here money comes first, ideology and loyalty often takes the back seat.

BJP offered MLAs Rs. 50 crore to defect The Hindu Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/19/stories/2010101961440600.htm 
Congress claims 53 of its 73 MLAs were offered money and a ministerial berth by BJP leaders

Shobha, Katta, Reddy luring our MLAs Deccan Herald Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105526/shobha-katta-reddy-luring-our.html 
Rs 50 cr each, ministerial berths offered to switch loyalty: Congress

JD(S) wades through slush of Lotus II Deccan Herald Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105679/jds-wades-through-slush-lotus.html 
Party switches resorts, fearing poaching bid by BJP

The JD(S) party had decided to confine all its MLAs to resorts for some more days to protect its MLAs from BJP's Operation Lotus II.

The JD(S) had deputed nearly 50 of its loyal workers at the resort to keep tabs on its MLAs. At least 10 workers were on the night beat, protecting the flock against the BJP poachers. Party State President H D Kumaraswamy made sure that he talked to every MLAs at least once a day.

Cong jumpy as BJP pushes up MLA rates Times of India Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Cong-jumpy-as-BJP-pushes-up-MLA-rates/articleshow/6771591.cms

BJP preys, oppn locks stable door Times of India Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/BJP-preys-oppn-locks-stable-door/articleshow/6771589.cms

Rebel Ministers are whistle-blowers: judge The Hindu Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/19/stories/2010101961380600.htm 
Tussle between the rebels and the BJP is an internal fight
Justice Kumar of Karnataka High Court said: "After their efforts to fight against corruption, nepotism and other ends did not yield result, they approached the Governor and wrote to him withdrawing support to the Government and expressed no confidence against the Chief Minister. From what they have/had stated in the letter, they wanted to fight against such evil and they wanted a clean administration."

JD(S) snug in resort Times of India Tue, Oct 19, 2010
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/JDS-snug-in-resort/articleshow/6771592.cms 
The purpose of keeping the MLAs in the resort was to prevent them from being poached by the BJP.

Wary JD(S) shifts legislators Deccan Herald Mon, Oct 18, 2010
The JD(S) was on its guard following the 'poaching' of its legislator M C Ashwatha by the BJP.
The party on Sunday shepherded all its MLAs from Eagleton Resort in Bidadi to Golden Palms in Hesaraghatta.

The sources in the party said the elected representatives would stay in the resort for next two to three days or till the Karnataka High Court pronounces the verdict on the disqualification of five Independent MLAs.

The JD(S) had become extremely cautious after losing Ashwatha. Any reduction in its strength would only help the ruling BJP. The party for now was sure that the disqualified MLAs were with it. Chances of them going back to the BJP couldn't be ruled out if they turned 'qualified' by the court verdict and keeping them together had become a great task for JD(S) state chief Kumaraswamy.

The Congress had instructed all its legislators to be in Bangalore on Mon, Oct 18, 2010. They were likely to be shifted to a resort again after the legislature party meeting.

All parties eagerly await court verdict The Hindu Mon, Oct 18, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/18/stories/2010101861660600.htm 
JD(S) shifts its legislators to a resort on Tumkur road
The Janata Dal (S) had continued with the "resort culture" ostensibly to prevent poaching of its legislators by the BJP. It is common knowledge that the ruling party successfully obtained the vote of an independent, Varthur Prakash (Kolar), by winning him over just a day ahead of the second floor test.

State president of the Janata Dal (S) and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, told The Hindu that the party had shifted all its legislators to a resort on Tumkur road (Golden Palms). The resort had incidentally played host to BJP legislators until a few days ago.

Barring H.D. Revanna and Anitha Kumaraswamy, all the remaining 25 Janata Dal (S) legislators along with 16 others who had/have been disqualified by Speaker K.G. Bopaiah were in the resort.

Karnataka BJP hints at another 'Operation Lotus' - Sat, October 16, 2010
http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/karnataka-bjp-hints-at-another-operation-lotus/215682.html 
State BJP unit president KS Eshwarappa on Fri, Oct 16, 2010 hinted at another round of Operation Lotus, when he said that the BJP was ready to welcome the MLAs of the opposition party if they were ready to accept its discipline and ideologies.

He said that some MLAs had contacted them over the phone and had expressed their desire to join BJP as they were disillusioned with the behaviour of their leaders. They should resign from their parent party and join the BJP by accepting its ideology, the president stated.

Eshwarappa hints relaunch of 'Operation Kamala' Deccan Herald, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105179/eshwarappa-hints-relaunch-operation-kamala.html 
The State BJP President K S Eshwarappa had hinted at the relaunch of 'Operation Lotus' for stability of the State Government.

"Not only Operation Kamala, we will do anything for the stability of the Government. The Congress is bogged down by leadership crisis. Several legislators in the party are already weighing the option of coming out. What is wrong in drawing such MLAs?,"  Eshwarappa said at a press meet here on Friday. He said the BJP was chalking out the strategy for 'Operation Kamala.'

No friends, foes in politics: Narendraswamy Deccan Herald Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105203/no-friends-foes-politics-narendraswamy.html 
The Government, which has a wafer-thin majority, is/was badly in need of the support of more MLAs to gain the much-needed stability.

Chief Minsiter Yeddyurappa and State Party President K S Eshwarappa have/had already said that they were not saying no to Operation Lotus to stabilise the party and the Government.

Ministers find 'freedom,' go on holiday Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105180/ministers-find-freedom-go-holiday.html
The ministers had been away from the Vidhana Soudha for the past two weeks. They had stopped attending their offices in the secretariat after a few MLAs left for Chennai and withdrew their support to the Yeddyurappa government. The ministers engaged themselves in quelling the rebellion.

As the Governor asked the Chief Minister to prove majority, all MLAs were shepherded to resorts. And, the ministers had a reason to avoid entering Vidhana Soudha.

After a long stay in the resorts, where they had little chances of using cellphones, the legislators preferred to enjoy 'freedom' visiting their families and constituencies.

I am with BJP, claims Vajjal Deccan Herald, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105168/i-am-bjp-claims-vajjal.html 
The legislator said he went with rebel legislators to a resort in Goa at the height of the political crisis but soon dissociated himself and returned to Bangalore.
'Mining lobby behind political turmoil' Deccan Herald, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105165/mining-lobby-behind-political-turmoil.html

Yeddy win temporary, says Oppn Deccan Herald, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/104743/yeddy-win-temporary-says-oppn.html

'Speaker hatched conspiracy with Chief Minister' Deccan Herald, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105175/speaker-hatched-conspiracy-chief-minister.html

JD(S) accuses Speaker's office of doctoring proceedings Deccan Herald, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/105109/jds-accuses-speakers-office-doctoring.html 

If you want progress, shut this open market of netas' loyalty - Times of India, Sat, Oct 16, 2010
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/to-the-point/entry/if-you-want-progress-shut-this-open-market-of-netas-loyalty
Yeddyurappa is not above suspicion. He hasn't been able to win the confidence of one and all in the party. He's failed to cleanse the administration of scams involving senior ministers. Even he is under a cloud for one such scam. That dissidence has been raising its ugly head every now and then shows that he isn't in full control. That scams have hit his government proves that he prefers to push things under the carpet, just to remain in the hot seat.

Karnataka badly needs a stable government and good governance.  Lust for power has consumed the netas. In the ensuing struggle, no neta ever bothered to seek the opinion of the people. And the Indians boast of being the world's biggest democracy.

Another Operation Lotus Deccan Herald Fri, Oct 15, 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/104896/another-operation-lotus.html 
After winning the floor test for the second time, the ruling BJP braced up for another round of Operation Lotus for the much-needed stability.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Thursday, Oct 13, 2010 declared that the party will carefully pick opposition MLAs willing to crossover to the BJP.

Addressing the party MLAs at his official residence soon after winning the trust vote he claimed that many MLAs in JD(S) and Congress are/were keen to join the BJP.

Horse trading again ahead of trust vote? - The Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle Thursday, October 14, 2010
http://www.asianage.com/india/horse-trading-again-ahead-trust-vote-120
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/horse-trading-again-ahead-trust-vote-548 
A day ahead of a precedent setting second trust vote on October 14, the BJP wanted to be back to its bad old ways. Critical of the opposition Janata Dal(S) for trying to wean BJP legislators away from the saffron fold, insiders said that both the food and civil supplies minister V. Somanna and mining magnate and state tourism minister Janardhan Reddy were put in-charge of "Operation Kamala-III" for the crucial second trust vote in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

"We will adopt a two-pronged strategy, first to woo back our disgruntled Legislators. At the same time, we will create a reserve of another half a dozen legislators, from both JD(S) and Congress party kitty. I will ensure their absence during the vote of confidence," source quoted Mr Reddy as saying.

The mine baron held a press conference on Wednesday with his first scalp, the independent MLA Varthur Prakash by his side.

Mr Prakash had abandoned the BJP as he did not get a cabinet berth, and is one of six Independents who had been brought in through "Operation Kamala I", which boosted the BJP to 117.

'Illegal' Independents? - October 14, 2010
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/%E2%80%98illegal%E2%80%99-independents-465 
Legal eagles are questioning whether the B.S. Yeddyurappa government, which has held office for the last two and a half years, could itself be termed "illegal and unconstitutional".

With the party fighting a bitter court battle to disqualify 16 MLAs, including the five independent legislators, a senior counsel told Deccan Chronicle that "The very action of independent MLAs joining a political party must be viewed as breach of trust as the electorate voted for the candidate against any political party." The five independents, by identifying with the BJP, having been part of BJP legislature party meetings and carrying themselves as BJP MLAs, as argued by the party advocates in High Court, have long qualified for being rusticated from the Assembly.

"In actual terms, they should have stepped down or the BJP should have removed them after bringing them into its fold through Operation Kamala. But they continued to be part of the government and four of them served as ministers," said the retired judge.

By not petitioning the Speaker on this issue, the Congress and JD(S) missed an opportunity to reduce the government to a minority, but were now fighting tooth and nail to do so two and a half years after the event. "The independent MLAs could have been disqualified if the opposition had petitioned the Speaker. The Speaker can only act on a petition and not take up the case suo-moto," he said.

Mine wars being fought in Assembly  October 13, 2010
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/116220/COLUMNS/mine-wars-being-fought-in-assembly.html 
When Excise Minister M.P. Renukacharya took 13 MLAs with him to Chennai and threatened to bring down the government, Yeddyurappa didn't take him seriously. For, Renukacharya was repeating the act for the fourth time in the last three years.

On all the three occasions, he was handsomely rewarded and dropped his rebellions. Yeddyurappa was hoping that Renukacharya would end the fourth rebellion in two days.

Worse, on the second day of their stay in Chennai, Renukacharya and his team submitted a letter to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj announcing withdrawal of support to Yeddyurappa.

If highlyplaced sources were to be believed, it was the Bellary mine lords, who wanted the Yeddyurappa government to collapse and had pumped in more than Rs 200 crore to stage this coup.

For a change, it was not the Bellary Reddy brothers but another set of miners, who had been hounded by the Reddys, against whom Yeddyurappa could not take any action fearing rebellion. These miners, traditional business rivals of the Reddys, were harassed by all possible government agencies.

These miners were not given ore transportation permits, fresh leases, no objection certificates from the Forest and Mines & Geology department. Even court orders favoring them were being neglected.

It is well known that Yeddyurappa is ineffective in Bellary, which is ruled by the Reddys. Some firms even stopped mining because of the Reddys' harassment. They approached Yeddyurappa to rein in the Reddys, but he was helpless.

The uproar in Karnataka is/was the result of the government's support to the mining barons (Reddy brothers).

Renukacharya's rebellion was preceded by a series of disclosures of land scams, in which various ministers, the chief minister and his relatives were reportedly involved.

MLAs who participated in the rebellion
Five were Independents, who were ministers. Apart from Renukacharya, there were two other ministers, who are known party-hoppers. The rest were disgruntled MLAs with ministerial ambitions. For the first time, MLAs openly announced that they were being offered crores of rupees to abandon their parties, an indication of the money flow. Renukacharya did a U-turn as expected.

The Reddy brothers threw their hat in the ring when they came to know that their mining rivals were behind the coup.

The government has been mired in controversies, land scams and nepotism ever since it came to power in 2008. It even started a new political trend to increase its number in the Assembly by wooing opposition MLAs through its 'Operation Kamala'.

The rival miners of Reddys were in no mood to relent. They hired the best lawyers to defend the 16 expelled MLAs in the Karnataka High Court.

Rebels keep Yeddy on tenterhooks Friday , October 8 , 2010
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101008/jsp/nation/index.jsp 
Operation Kamala did the trick for B.S. Yeddyurappa in the first flush of victory but since then the BJP's lotus seems to have wilted.

Kamala was the password for the Karnataka chief minister's machinations to win over MLAs from the Opposition and cushion the wafer-thin majority he had after the 2008 elections.

Two years on, the legislators who had willingly left the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) for position and perks have turned against the BJP allegedly after "not getting enough".

Karnataka's please-all party -  Indian Express Fri Oct 08 2010
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/karnatakas-pleaseall-party/694299/0 
The 2008 assembly elections saw the BJP inch close to power. It fell short of a majority and came to power with the support of independent legislators. In return for their support, the independents were accommodated in the council of ministers. In the run-up to the 2008 elections, the BJP strategically welcomed into its fold several leaders who did not necessarily subscribe to the party's core ideology. Disgruntled leaders from the Congress and the JD(S), influential leaders from among the politically significant caste groups, those representing the mining lobby and real-estate interests were all accommodated much to the chagrin of the party faithful. The contradictions between the original loyalists of the party and the new recruits were clearly apparent even during the run-up to power. Soon after the BJP government was installed, the leadership launched "Operation Kamala". The strategy was to induce Congress and JD(S) MLAs to resign and contest the by-elections as BJP candidates. The party hoped that it could "manufacture" a majority and reduce its dependence on the independents. Operation Kamala was partly successful but had innumerable costs. Those who joined the party had to be suitably rewarded with ministerial positions, causing much heartburn and distress among those who had been long loyal, and saw their own ambitions vanishing into thin air.

With the BJP government having to appease so many diverse interests, it was only a matter of time before controversies sprang up and snowballed into crises. Corruption charges against those in power were exposed with regular frequency. Ministers were forced out of office in view of the embarrassment they caused to the party. Rebel groups emerged within the party and sought to use these acts of omission and commission to strengthen their claims to office. The leadership was unable to assert itself and this emboldened the rebel groups and those aspiring for ministerial berths to publicly stake their claims.

What works in the BJP government's favour is the inability of the opposition parties to drive home the advantage. Even in this current crisis, a major challenge that both the Congress and JD(S) fear is "Operation Kamala Phase-II", and both parties are/were trying hard to hold on to their flock. The Congress remains a hopelessly divided house and has not been able to get its act together. The JD(S) remains a force in limited pockets and the influence of its "first" family has resulted in the side-lining and exit of many potential leaders.

Karnataka's new BJP chief to continue 'operation lotus' February 1, 2010
Karnataka's new BJP chief to continue 'operation lotus': Web Exclusive : India Todayhttp://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/...
Karnataka's K.S. Eshwarappa, who resigned as energy minister to formally take over as state BJP president on Jan 30 wanted to continue with Operation Lotus, the party's programme to attract leaders from other parties.

Under this programmme, which state chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa termed political polarisation, the party ensnared a number of leaders from both the the JD-S and the Congress swelling its numbers in the 224-member assembly.

"My single most focus will be to build the party, accommodate all those who want to join the party and ensure the party continues in power even after this term is over," Eshwarappa told India Today. "Our job is to strengthen the hands of the chief minister and build the party at the grassroots."

BJP to try 'Operation Lotus' in Bidar district  30 Nov 2009
http://expressbuzz.com/States/Karnataka/bjp-to-try-%25u2018operation-lotus%25u2019-in-bidar-district/126208.html 

Lotus Loofahs Outlook Nov 16, 2009
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262756 
People point to the time when the Reddys spent unprecedented sums in north Karnataka to bring the first BJP government in the south to power. It's also common knowledge that BSY relied on Reddy "packets" to launch "Operation Lotus" - getting Opposition MLAs to defect. As BJP workers themselves say, the Reddys are like venture capitalists and they want returns for their investments.

The Revenge Of The Reddy Republic - November 14, 2009
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main43.asp?filename=Ne141109the_revenge.asp 
Months after the BJP formed its first government in the South with the support of independent legislators, the party launched Operation Lotus to wean away legislators from other political parties into the BJP. The legislators were offered cash incentives, offers of ministerial berths and key positions in various government corporations. In a conversation with TEHELKA at the time, Janardhan did not dispute the allegation that the Reddy brothers were behind Operation Lotus. Rumours at the time pegged the amount paid to legislators who walked over to the BJP at a few crore rupees each.

ZP president, vice-president get reprieve The Hindu, Saturday, Jul 10, 2010
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/07/10/stories/2010071053160300.htm 
Shimoga: The strength of the BJP in the 31-member zilla panchayat, which was seven in the first 20-month phase of the panchayat, rose to 16 when nine members from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party joined it as part of "Operation Kamala". This enabled the party to come to power.

Operation Lotus helped BJP scale high in K'taka: Yeddyurappa - Zee News Sunday, June 07, 2009
http://www.zeenews.com/news537435.html 
Buoyed by the good performance of BJP in Karnataka during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has given credit for his party's success to "Operation Lotus" -- poaching of important Congress and JD(S) leaders -- among other factors.

"Operation Lotus has definitely helped. Very important leaders joined our party from JD(S) and Congress at district and state level," Yeddyurappa said during an interaction at his residence.

He cited DB Chandre Gowda, who is now a BJP MP from Bangalore North.

Operation Lotus had drawn a lot of flak from Congress and JD(S) as BJP had poached several of their important leaders with promises of ministerial portfolios in the state government as well as Lok Sabha tickets.

BJP's 'poach-all' operation in Karnataka May 15, 2009
http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/42033/Headlines%20Today%20Top%20Stories/BJP 
After working out a full-fledged Hindutva laboratory in Gujarat and hammering out a success formula, the saffron brigade had formulated a significantly effective political model in BJP-ruled Karnataka in the name of Operation Kamala.

Operation Kamala has been used extensively to strengthen the BJP and weaken the Congress and the JD(S) across the state. Despite the last leg of polling being over, the BJP has/had not left any stone unturned. It is now adding elected taluk panchayat and even "apolitical" gram panchayat members to its fold, leaving the Opposition reduced to being bystanders.

BJP sources said nearly 5,000 such additions had been made from March 2009 to May 2009 alone. And the exodus was from every district in the state, including some non- BJP districts such as Mandya and Chamarajanagar.

The "operation" is essentially simple.

Elected representatives and grassroot representatives of other political parties are lured into joining the BJP, allegedly with the dangle of political power as well as money.

With this, the BJP achieves two purposes - strengthening itself while eating away the grassroot network of the opposition parties.

"Operation Kamala is a devious device to defeat the anti-defection law, as it exists today. As a political strategy, it might help the BJP, but even politically, it is completely immoral," political analyst and senior journalist E. Raghavan said.

The process was set in motion by the BJP in 2008 with the "acquisition" of seven Opposition party MLAs, who resigned their seats and contested bypolls. Five of them won on the BJP ticket, with the result that the saffron party  had 115 members in the 225 member legislative Assembly, and had successfully crossed the magic number of 113.

Flushed with this success, the BJP has extended Operation Kamala to all levels - from MP candidates, to MLAs, to zilla, taluk and gram panchayats.

The BJP's national leaders chose all through to blatantly ignore the machinations of the party's state unit, but Operation Kamala was a model described and explained to all units of the party across the country at their last national executive. However, when asked at a press conference about the moral basis for Operation Kamala, BJP's PM-in-waiting for 2009 Lok Sabha elections, L.K. Advani, said: "I would rather not answer that question." The Congress and the JD(S) that have also specialised in the dirty tricks department all these years have been dumbfounded by the audacity of the whole scheme. Even master strategist and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, has not been able to do much except watching from the sidelines.

Both parties claim they are handicapped due to the "lack of funds" to counter the BJP.

The Congress, on its part, is even unwilling to acknowledge that its grassroot workers and party network has been deserting it in droves to join the BJP. Raghavan, however, pointed out that Operation Kamala and the political strategy model drawn up by the BJP in Karnataka might boomerang. "If other political parties which have the capacity to influence elected representatives by whatever means also react to this elsewhere, the BJP be might be at the receiving end. Probably it is only then that all political parties will re-examine the scope of the anti- defection law," he said.

The BJP's Operation Lotus has annoyed common man - Times of India Apr 16, 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/The-BJPs-Operation-Lotus-has-annoyed-common-man/articleshow/4411043.cms 

Lotus feeder - Indian Express Mon May 18 2009
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lotus-feeder/461288/0 
The strategy of 'Operation Lotus' helmed by Yeddyurappa to draw significant leaders from other parties in regions where the BJP is/was considered weak clicked in the Lok Sabha 2009 elections.

Season Of Buy And Fell - Outlook April 27, 2009
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?240309 
In Karnataka, the elections are about a shifty new politics
The BJP's rise to power in the state has been closely linked to the political emergence of the mining barons of Bellary. As these gentlemen switched from bicycles to helicopters, they introduced a relatively new dimension of private patronage in politics. The Yediyurappa government took this process to another level by offering ministries to opposition legislators who would resign their seats and switch parties. While campaigning for re-election, they left little room for doubt that they expected themselves and their constituencies to benefit financially from this switch.

Spurred by the success of this strategy in gaining the BJP a majority in the 2008 assembly, Yediyurappa had extended it to the 2009 parliamentary (Lok Sabha) elections. He'd identified families in each constituency who apparently had the financial muscle to carry out private patronage, irrespective of the party they belong to. They had been offered BJP tickets. In one case, a Congress MLA had been given the parliamentary ticket and his son the ticket for the assembly seat he resigned. The assumption clearly was that this election was being fought entirely on constituency-specific issues-and may the strongest family win. But in offering an open house to politicians of all hues, the BJP had made the supporters of Hindutva restive. They had responded by attacking women and churches, alienating sections of Christians and youth who had supported the BJP.

Operation lotus will continue The Hindu Friday, Feb 06, 2009
http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/06/stories/2009020652080300.htm 
State BJP president Sadananda Gowda said on Thursday that "operation lotus" would continue and people who believed in the party's ideology were welcome to join it without any condition.

Many leaders from other parties were likely to join the BJP soon in Hassan, Mandya and other districts.

Operation Lotus resumes, Bidar MLA joins BJP Daily News Analysis / DNA Thursday, Feb 5, 2009
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_operation-lotus-resumes-bidar-mla-joins-bjp_1227855 
Senior Congressman, former minister and Bidar MLA Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli was the latest to join the ranks of the BJP, netted in a fresh round of the Operation Lotus.

Despite public statements from chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and state BJP president DV Sadananda Gowda that Operation Lotus - the name given to the efforts by the BJP to induce Opposition MLAs into joining the ruling party in the aftermath of the assembly elections in a bid to gain majority - had been suspended after the recent by-elections to the state assembly, the BJP on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 inducted Nagamarapalli into the party in the presence of its prime ministerial candidate, LK Advani.

Nagamarapalli, a formidable Lingayat leader from the Hyderbad-Karnataka region, was tipped to contest the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from the Bidar parliamentary constituency.

Sources in the BJP had indicated that the second phase of Operation Lotus would continue.

Former minister B Shivaram, who has for decades been a rival of HD Deve Gowda and his family in the political arena, and the MLA from Chintamani, MC Sudhakar, were both expected to leave the Congress to join the BJP ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

These two Congress leaders after joining the saffron-fold were expected to contest from Hassan and Kolar parliamentary constituencies, respectively, on a BJP ticket.

Another by-election had to be necessitated in the state within one year of the 2008 assembly elections to fill the vacant seats in the assembly after these leaders quit their parent parties and joined the ruling saffron party.

Reacting to the defection of Nagamarapalli, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president RV Deshpande said that the senior Congressman had in the past been hobnobbing with the BJP and Wednesday's (Feb 04, 2009) development was only expected. "In fact I spoke to him last week, when he claimed that he was a loyal Congressman and would continue to remain so," said Deshpande.

In the first round of Operation Lotus, seven legislators had quit their parent parties and joined the BJP. In the by-elections held for these vacancies, five seats were won by the BJP and two by the Janata Dal(S).

Operation Lotus termed a blow to democracy Friday, Nov 28, 2008
http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/28/stories/2008112856750400.htm 

Operation Lotus fallout: Four ministers may go Times of India Aug 24, 2008
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Operation-Lotus-fallout-Four-ministers-may-go-/articleshow/3398275.cms 
Continuing its Operation Lotus (the poaching of Congress-JD (S) MLAs), the BJP (saffron party)  geared up to welcome two more MLAs from the Congress on Sunday.

To replace four BJP ministers, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa wanted/planned to include four defectors from other parties two from the Congress and one from the JD(S).

As promised, to accommodate defectors from JD(S) and Congress in his ministry, Yeddyurappa had sounded out four cabinet colleagues about putting in their papers.

Within a month of Operation Lotus, the BJP had netted seven MLAs. Four are from the JD(S) and three from the Congress.

State BJP president D V Sadanada Gowda defended the move to induct party hoppers, saying that it was a must to consolidate the BJP government's future.

Operation Kamala successful, kudos to Gali Janardhan Reddy! Deccan Post
http://www.deccanpost.in/view_news.php?nid=7491&cid=1&sid=2 
The meticulously carried out 'Operation Kamala'  had finally yielded the much-desired result in Karnataka and the ruling BJP and Chief Minister Yediyurappa were on cloud nine following the party's victory in six Assembly seats out of the total eight which went for by-elections in the State.

The seats fell vacant following the resignation of three Congress and four Janata Dal (S) members and the demise of another JD(S) member. The resignations happened as a part of Operation Kamala, the BJP's effort to 'buy' more members in order to secure absolute majority in the Assembly.

After the Assembly elections in May 2008, the BJP bagged 110 seats, making it falling short of three seats to reach the magic figure of 113 to gain absolute majority in the Assembly.

BJP MLA from Bellary Gali Janardhan Reddy came to the rescue of the party and he allegedly spent crores of rupees to 'buy out' disgruntled members of the Congress and the JD(S).  And with the clear sweep of the by-elections, the BJP had attained more than required: a total number of 116 members, an absolute majority.

And now even as the Yediyurappa government was basking in victory, an eerie fear was lurking in the BJP camp as it is Gali Janardhan Reddy who is calling the shots. Senior members of the BJP were said to be terribly upset even after the victory as they were afraid of being sidelined by Reddy. However, Janardhan Reddy was having the last laugh.

Operation Kamala mockery of democracy Deccan Herald Sunday, October 26, 2008
http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct262008/district2008102597240.asp 
Mine mafia, land mafia, liquor mafia, education lobby are playing a vital role in the administration of the government.

"The 'Operation Kamala' of BJP is a mockery of the democracy. BJP has stooped it to the Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Gram Panchayat level," said CPM State Secretariat Member V G K Nair.

Resort politics may come to Shimoga too The Hindu Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009
http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/15/stories/2009121552250300.htm 
Shimoga DCC chief expresses apprehensions
BJP warned against 'repeating it' in Shimoga Karnataka Chief Minister's home district
President of the District Congress Committee R. Prasannakumar said here on Monday that there were apprehensions that "resort politics" reported in Dharwad district with some voters of Bellary district in the elections to the Legislative Council being kept in a resort would be extended to Shimoga district too.

I'll ensure democracy prevails: Governor - The Hindu October 10, 2010
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article822844.ece 

Guv updating Prez on developments Oct 10, 2010
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Guv-updating-Prez-on-developments/articleshow/6721178.cms 

Conclusion: As people / voters / citizens have the right to elect their representatives, they should also have the right to recall / dismiss them.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/no-to-crime-corruption-in-politics/