Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Accuses BJP Of Offering Rs 5 Crore To Odisha Congress MLAs, Operation Lotus Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the BJP of attempting to bribe Odisha Congress legislators during a meeting at a resort near Bengaluru. According to Shivakumar, four individuals from Odisha had booked a room with the help of a local person named Suresh and approached eight Congress MLAs staying at the resort. The accused allegedly offered Rs 5 crore per vote to influence cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. Shivakumar claimed that two of the individuals fled the scene, while the other two were apprehended. The BJP is said to have provided cheques as part of the alleged bribe, but the MLAs refused to accept them. Shivakumar stated that the accused had admitted to their intentions, and a complaint has been filed with the police for further investigation. He also mentioned that the person who booked the hotel online is from the Byatarayanapura locality in Bengaluru. The MLAs reportedly rejected the offer, and the cheques were seized by authorities. Shivakumar emphasized that the BJP’s alleged "Operation Lotus" aimed to sway the Congress legislators, though the MLAs refused to engage with the proposal. Ashok Kumar Das, the Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislative Party in Odisha, filed a complaint with the Bidadi police station, alleging that four individuals attempted to bribe Congress MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. Das stated that the BJP’s decision to field an additional candidate for the polls had raised concerns about the safety of the legislators. The eight MLAs from Odisha had arrived in Bengaluru on March 12 to avoid potential threats.#bjp #dk_shivakumar #odisha_congress #operation_lotus #suresh
