Operation Kamala

Operation Kamala, also known as Operation Lotus is a term coined in 2008, when India's former minister G. Janardhana Reddy in the state of Karnataka, used all possible tricks (persuade, bribe, punishment, divide) to secure support from legislators bypassing the anti-defection law, so as to take the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) past the majority number.[1][2][3][4][5] Operation Lotus refers to "poaching" or "bribing" of MLAs and MPs of other parties by the BJP, mainly of their rival the Indian National Congress party (INC), often to form government in states where they do not have the majority.[6]

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Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that "BJP has spent Rs 6,500 crore [65 billion] rupees on buying 277 MLAs, they also tried to buy Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) MLAs in Delhi, and they offered 20 crores to each. They brought Rs 800 crores to buy MLAs of Delhi."[7] Kejriwal conducted a floor test in the Delhi Assembly to prove that his government continued to have the majority in the assembly and BJP's alleged Operation Lotus in Delhi had failed to poach AAP MLAs. CM successfully proved his majority in the legislature.[8][9]

Goa

2019

In July 2019 fourteen members of Indian National Congress switched their parties and joined Bharatiya Janata Party.[10][11]

List of MLAs
No. Assembly Constituency MLA Notes
# Name
1 22 Siroda Subhash Shirodkar In 2017 changed party from Congress to BJP
2 1 Mandrem Dayanand Sopte In 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
3 4 Tivim Nilkanth Halarnkar In 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
4 7 Saligao Jayesh Salgaonkar In 2019 changed party from GFP to BJP
5 9 Porvorim Rohan Khaunte In 2019 changed party from Independent to BJP
6 11 Panaji Atanasio Monserrate In 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
7 12 Taleigao Jennifer Monserrate In 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
8 13 St. Cruz Antonio Fernandes in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
9 14 St. Andre Francisco Silveira in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
10 19 Valpoi Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane In 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
11 28 Nuvem Wilfred D'sa in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
12 34 Cuncolim Clafasio Dias in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
13 35 Velim Filipe Nery Rodrigues in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
14 36 Quepem Chandrakant Kavlekar in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
15 40 Canacona Isidore Fernandes in 2019 changed party from Congress to BJP
16 21 Ponda Ravi Naik In 2021 changed party from Congress to BJP

2022

On 14 September 2022, 8 Congress MLAs switched to BJP.[12] Former Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, along with other 6 Congress MLAs joined Bharatiya Janata Party, after meeting Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa from BJP.[13][14]

No. Constituency Name Remarks
6 Siolim Delilah Lobo Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
7 Saligao Kedar Naik Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
8 Calangute Michael Lobo Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
13 St. Cruz Rodolfo Louis Fernandes Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
15 Cumbarjua Rajesh Faldessai Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
24 Mormugao Sankalp Amonkar Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
28 Nuvem Aleixo Sequeira Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]
31 Margao Digambar Kamat Defected from Congress to BJP on 14 September 2022[12]

Karnataka

2008

The BJP won 110 seats in the assembly elections in May 2008, falling three seats short of a simple majority. With the backing of six independents, Yeddyurappa took the oath of office as chief minister to establish the first BJP administration in south India. But to further secure the stability of the administration, the BJP lured seven MLAs—three from the Congress and four from the JD(S) in an operation purportedly funded by mining tycoon and former BJP minister Janardhan Reddy of Bellary—by offering them money and power. The BJP scored five victories in the by-elections, bringing its total in the 224-member assembly to 115. Operation Kamala eventually became the name of the entire exercise.[15]

The MLAs who switched parties during the Operation Kamala and resigned are J. Narasimha Swamy, Anand Asnotikar, Jaggesh, Balachandra Jarkiholi, K. Shivanagouda Naik. Umesh Katti and D. C. Gourishankar.[16][17][18]

2019

Main article: 2019 Karnataka political crisis

Ramesh Jarkiholi organized 14 other Congress MLAs to resign their posts.[19] Ramesh Jarkiholi was one of the 15 MLAs from Congress and 2 from JD(S) who resigned in July 2019, bringing down the HDK Congress-JD(S) coalition and allowing B.S. Yeddyurappa (BSY) to return to power.[20] After Supreme Court ruling held up their disqualification but allowed them to run, Jarkiholi joined BJP along with all other rebels inducted by Yeddyurappa and other important persons.[21][22][23][24][25]

Investigations

  • On 31 March 2021, the bench of Justice D'Cunha refused to quash the FIR against the sitting Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yediyurappa in a case nicknamed Operation Kamala case.[26] At the time of the alleged incident, Yediyurappa was the leader of opposition.[27]

Reactions

  • In an interview with Deccan Herald in March 2019, B. S. Yediyurappa said "Operation Kamala was not wrong and I don't regret it. It is part of democracy."[28][29]
  • Lehar Singh Siroya claimed that the BJP cadre in the State was “by and large against the Operation Kamala” as that would not help the party in the long term.[30]
  • H. D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the BJP used Operation Kamala to affect the defections of MLAs from his government, causing it to fall.

Madhya Pradesh
Main article: 2020 Madhya Pradesh political crisis

The crisis started when long loyalist Congress politician Jyotiraditya Scindia suddenly went to Delhi and resigned from Congress and joined BJP. This led to many supporters of him resigning from Congress as well. Hardeep Singh Dang resigned from the assembly membership and consequently from Indian National Congress, citing in a letter, 'ignorance from his party' and then joined BJP on March 21, 2020, along with 21 others.[31][32][33] Ultimately, this exodus led to the fall of the Kamal Nath government.

See also

References
  1. Aji, Sowmya (16 May 2018). "After falling short of numbers, BJP revisits 'Operation Kamala' of 2008". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  2. "DH Deciphers | What is Operation Kamala 2.0?". Deccan Herald. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. "What is Operation Kamala ? Will BJP manage a repeat of 2008?". The Statesman. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. "'Operation Kamala' 2.0 in Karnataka: Union Minister behind efforts to bring down Congress-JDS government, claim sources". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  5. Aji, Sowmya (15 May 2009). "BJP's 'poach-all' operation in Karnataka". India Today. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  6. "op-lotus-in-punjab-mlas-offered-25-crores-each-aap-minister-claims".
  7. "Free power for 12 hours, loan waiver: Kejriwal announces guarantees to poll-bound Gujarat". The New Indian Express. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. "Why Arvind Kejriwal Needed A Floor Test In Delhi Assembly To Prove Majority Of His Government". www.outlookindia.com/. 29 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  9. "Arvind Kejriwal On Majority Test: "To Show (BJP's) Op Lotus Failed"". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  10. "10 Congress Legislators From Goa Formally Join BJP, Other Allies Jittery". NDTV.com. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  11. Ghadyalpatil, Abhiram (10 July 2019). "In fresh jolt to Congress in Goa, 10 party legislators switch to BJP". mint. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  12. "8 Goa Congress MLAs defect to BJP". The Indian Express. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  13. "Another Setback to Congress in Goa, 8 Party MLAs join BJP including Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo". News18. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  14. "Another Setback to Congress in Goa, 8 Party MLAs join BJP including Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo". Times of India. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  15. "DH DECIPHERS | What is Operation Kamala 2.0?". Deccan Herald. 15 January 2019.
  16. "What is Operation Kamal?". 16 May 2018.
  17. "A fraternal fight that brought down the Karnataka government and threatens the next one". The News Minute. 24 July 2019.
  18. "'2008ರ ಆಪರೇಷನ್‌ ಕಮಲ': ಕೆಲವರು ತೆರೆ ಮುಂದೆ, ಹಲವರು ತೆರೆಮರೆಗೆ - ಮಂಕಾದ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಕಲಿಗಳ ಬದುಕು". Vijay Karnataka (in Kannada).
  19. "After denying BJP role in their defection, all Karnataka rebel MLAs to join ruling party". www.thenewsminute.com. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  20. "The 15 MLAs who brought down Kumaraswamy government". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  21. "16 rebel Karnataka MLAs join BJP day after SC verdict, CM Yediyurappa welcomes them". The Financial Express. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  22. "16 disqualified Congress-JD(S) MLAs join BJP, 13 get bypoll ticket | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  23. Gowda, Aravind (5 July 2019). "Rebel-rousing in the Congress". India Today. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  24. "Karnataka crisis: Congress steps up efforts to persuade MLA to withdraw resignation from assembly". Times of India. Press Trust of India. 14 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  25. "The 15 MLAs who brought down Kumaraswamy government". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  26. Plumber, Mustafa (1 April 2021). ""Serious Allegations ": Karnataka High Court Vacates Stay, Orders Thorough Investigation Against Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa in 'Operation Kamala' case". www.livelaw.in. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  27. Biju, Rintu Mariam (April 2021). "Karnataka High Court allows probe against Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in 'Operation Kamala' case". Bar and Bench. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  28. "Watch | Operation Kamala not wrong, no regret: BSY". Deccan Herald. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  29. Mohammad, Akram (5 April 2021). "Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa may find going tough after May 2". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  30. Kumar, B. s Satish (12 December 2018). "'Operation Kamala' will not help BJP provide stable govt., says Lahar Singh". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  31. "'Disgruntled' Congress MLA Hardeep Singh Dang Resigns from Madhya Pradesh Assembly". 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  32. "Operation Lotus? Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs land in Karnataka". The Economic Times. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  33. "Trouble for Congress in Madhya Pradesh as MLA Hardeep Singh Dang Resigns; 3 More Missing". Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.

Further reading
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