Rebel MLAs were taken away 'forcibly', alleges BJP

Initial reports indicated that 13 legislators were taken away but later BJP leaders said that 11 legislators, including 7 of their own party, were "kidnapped" by a group of 'goons'.

The BJP on Saturday alleged that 12 of its MLAs were “forcibly” taken to an unknown destination by JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, local Congress leaders and plainclothes policemen from a hotel in Goa.

Till this afternoon BJP leaders at the Centre and in Karnataka were claiming the crisis had blown over and BJP would prove its majority in the assembly on October 11.

However, the incident in Goa forced the central leadership to discuss the crisis afresh.

“Some of our (rebel) MLAs staying in Goa had expressed their support to the Yeddyurappa government. But while they were preparing to leave for Bangalore in the afternoon, Kumaraswamy- along with some Congress leaders and plainclothes policemen-forcibly took them to an unknown destination,” BJP spokesperson Ramnath Kovind told reporters here at a hurriedly called press conference.

He claimed that senior BJP leader were in touch with this group of 14 MLAs till this afternoon and after talks they had pledged their support to the Karnataka government.

The rebel MLAs were staying in a luxury hotel in Goa.

“Two of our MLAs in this group -- MP Renukacharya and another -- managed to evade Kumaraswamy and others,” Kovind said.

Incidentally, Mr. Renukacharya -- who is excise minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet -- was leading the rebel camp.

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu -- who is in Bangalore to handle this crisis along with Manohar Parikkar -- informed party president Nitin Gadkari about the Goa incident. BJP General Secretary Jaiprakash Nadda was also involved in the discussions.

“JD(S) and Congress are using all undemocratic means -- from money power to muscle power -- to destabilise the government. We strongly condemn this attempt to murder democracy,” Kovind said.

Nadda maintained that despite these, attempts BJP government will prove its majority in the Assembly at 11 AM on October 11.

Exuding the same confidence, Kovind said, “Despite these conspiracies and games that Congress and JD(S) are trying they will not succeed.”

BJP needs 113 MLAs to win a majority in the 224-member Karnataka assembly. It had the support of 122 MLAs (including 5 Independents), till 14 party MLAs and five Independent legislators rebelled last week.

Earlier PTI story adds

BJP rebels ‘dragged out’ of meeting with leaders

A high-voltage political drama unfolded at a five-star hotel in Goa this afternoon when 11 dissident legislators, who were in a meeting with BJP emissaries, were taken out of the place and transported to the airport. The BJP leaders claimed that “some goons” took away 11 legislators who were “dragged” into cars.

Initial reports indicated that 13 legislators were taken away but later BJP leaders said that 11 legislators, including 7 of their own party, were “kidnapped” by a group of “goons“.

Two BJP MLAs, including Karnataka Revenue Minister Renukacharya, who led the dissidents, remained at the hotel meeting.

“They (the dissident MLAs) were sitting in a meeting when suddenly goons appeared from nowhere and took them away. We were stunned,” BJP MP from Goa, Sripad Naik, who took part in the parleys, told the media outside the hotel.

Mr. Renukacharya, who was the last one to walk out of the hotel along with BJP supporters, said that Janata Dal (S) leader Kumarswamy’s close aide Jamir Ahmad was leading the group of 'goons' who kidnapped the legislators.

The events came as a surprise for BJP, which was hoping to break the ice with the dissidents by Saturday evening. Mr. Naik said that the final round of talks were going on when the group of 'goons' appeared.

“The legislators did not want to go but they were dragged and dumped into the vehicles,” Mr. Naik claimed.

At the hotel gates, police had cordoned the entire area and legislators packed in four jeeps were taken in a strict protection.

“All the issues had been settled. We all were united and had come to a consensus when goons arrived,” Mr. Renukacharya said.

Dissident BJP legislators were holed up in the hotel since Thursday. Karnataka’s Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy, Goa’s Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar and MP Sripad Naik were the part of reconciliation efforts. Mr. Reddy had left the hotel in the afternoon claiming that he would soon return.

Sources stated that BJP leaders had held video conferencing with the party high command in Delhi to convince the dissidents.

With the latest development, the crisis continues to loom large over Yeddyurappa government, who will be facing a trial of strength in the Assembly on Monday.