Congress Alleges Rs 5 Crore Bribe Offer to Odisha MLAs in Bengaluru, Two Arrested
In a dramatic development ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president DK Shivakumar on Sunday alleged that four men attempted to bribe eight Congress legislators from Odisha with Rs 5 crore each to secure cross-voting. Shivakumar labeled this incident as part of Operation Lotus, a term often used by opposition parties to accuse the BJP of poaching lawmakers.
Police Arrest Two BJP-Linked Individuals
Hours after the allegations surfaced, Bengaluru South Superintendent of Police R Srinivas Gowda confirmed that two persons have been arrested based on a complaint. The arrested individuals are identified as Birendra Prasad from Odisha and Byatarayanapura Suresh from Bengaluru, both linked to the BJP. Police stated that their questioning is ongoing, and they have not yet been produced before a judge.
Complaint Details and Alleged Threats
The complaint was filed by Ashok Kumar Das, deputy leader of the Congress Legislative Party in Odisha. According to Das, ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections, Congress shifted eight MLAs from Odisha to a resort near Bengaluru on March 12 due to fears of cross-voting and poaching. He also alleged plans of kidnapping the legislators.
The MLAs were housed at the Wonderla resort near Bidadi and were scheduled to return to Odisha shortly before voting. The complaint states that on Sunday, four persons met some of the MLAs and offered Rs 5 crore each for cross-voting in favor of the BJP. When the MLAs rejected the offer, the individuals allegedly threatened to kill them if they returned to Odisha and abused them.
Identities and Escape of Accused
The four accused have been identified as Birendra Prasad, Suresh, Ajith Kumar Sahu, and Simanchal Mahakud. A senior police officer reported that Suresh and Birendra were caught at the resort, while the others managed to escape. Notably, the rooms at the Wonderla resort were booked in the name of Suresh.
Shivakumar's Allegations and Historical Context
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar stated that the legislators refused the bribe offer and immediately informed the party leadership. He claimed that the four visitors, believed to be from Odisha, had booked rooms with the help of a local resident and attempted to contact the MLAs at the resort near Bidadi.
Shivakumar further alleged, The two men detained by police have admitted to arriving for this purpose and were carrying blank cheques. This is how Operation Lotus is being executed. During a meeting with aspirants for Bengaluru civic polls, he recalled his own arrest in 2017 when he was hosting MLAs ahead of a previous Rajya Sabha election, linking it to similar tactics.
Background on Rajya Sabha Elections in Odisha
The move to shift the Odisha MLAs to Bengaluru came as five candidates are contesting for four seats in Odisha. The fourth seat has become competitive after the BJP backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray, while the BJD and Congress jointly fielded Datteshwar Hota. The relocation aimed to prevent defections and secure the coalition's numbers during the vote.
In the Odisha assembly, the BJP has 79 MLAs, the BJD has 48, and Congress has 14. For the Rajya Sabha polls, a candidate needs at least 30 first-preference votes to win a seat. Based on current numbers, two BJP candidates and one BJD nominee are expected to win comfortably.
Congress Strategy and Additional Details
Aside from the eight MLAs, those staying in Karnataka as part of the Congress strategy included an MP and two AICC secretaries, all housed at the same resort. Shivakumar accused the BJP of facilitating the alleged approach to the MLAs, a charge the party has previously denied in similar cases.
When asked whether Congress would lodge a formal complaint, Shivakumar said the matter would be pursued legally, stating, The law will take care of the rest. This incident highlights the intense political maneuvering ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, with allegations of bribery and threats adding to the tension.
