Operation Kamala Explained

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]

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

2022

On 14 September 2022, 8 Congress MLAs switched to BJP.[10] 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.[11] [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.[13]

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.[14] [15] [16]

2019

See main article: 2019 Karnataka political crisis. Ramesh Jarkiholi organized 14 other Congress MLAs to resign their posts.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

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.[24] At the time of the alleged incident, Yediyurappa was the leader of opposition.[25]

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."[26] [27]
  • 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.[28]
  • 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

See 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.[29] [30] [31] Ultimately, this exodus led to the fall of the Kamal Nath government.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: After falling short of numbers, BJP revisits 'Operation Kamala' of 2008. Sowmya. Aji. 16 May 2018. The Economic Times. 11 October 2019. 22 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322230422/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/after-falling-short-of-numbers-bjp-revisits-operation-kamala-of-2008/articleshow/64183422.cms?from=mdr. live.
  2. Web site: 2019-01-15. DH Deciphers | What is Operation Kamala 2.0?. 2021-08-05. Deccan Herald. en. 31 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210731110941/https://www.deccanherald.com/state/dh-deciphers-what-operation-713124.html. live.
  3. Web site: 2018-05-16. What is Operation Kamala ? Will BJP manage a repeat of 2008?. 2021-08-05. The Statesman. en-US. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104316/https://www.thestatesman.com/what-is/operation-kamala-will-bjp-manage-repeat-2008-1502636620.html. live.
  4. Web site: 'Operation Kamala' 2.0 in Karnataka: Union Minister behind efforts to bring down Congress-JDS government, claim sources. 2021-08-05. The New Indian Express. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104315/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/jul/06/operation-kamala-20-in-karnataka-union-minister-behind-efforts-to-bring-down-congress-jds-government-2000326.html. live.
  5. Web site: May 15, 2009. Sowmya. Aji. BJP's 'poach-all' operation in Karnataka. 2021-08-05. India Today. en. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805105817/https://www.indiatoday.in/headlines-today-top-stories/story/bjps-poach-all-operation-in-karnataka-47519-2009-05-15. live.
  6. News: op-lotus-in-punjab-mlas-offered-25-crores-each-aap-minister-claims .
  7. News: Free power for 12 hours, loan waiver: Kejriwal announces guarantees to poll-bound Gujarat . 5 September 2022 . The New Indian Express . 2 September 2022 . 3 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220903065104/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/sep/02/free-power-for-12-hoursloan-waiver-kejriwal-announces-guarantees-to-poll-bound-gujarat-2494151.html . live .
  8. News: Why Arvind Kejriwal Needed A Floor Test In Delhi Assembly To Prove Majority Of His Government . 4 September 2022 . www.outlookindia.com/ . 29 August 2022 . en . 3 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220903155121/https://www.outlookindia.com/national/why-arvind-kejriwal-is-conducting-a-floor-test-to-prove-his-majority-against-operation-lotus--news-219592 . live .
  9. News: Arvind Kejriwal On Majority Test: "To Show (BJP's) Op Lotus Failed" . 29 August 2022 . NDTV.com . 29 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220829023040/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/aaps-trust-vote-bjp-arvind-kejriwal-to-take-majority-test-today-to-prove-all-aap-mlas-with-him-3295276 . live .
  10. Web site: 2022-09-14 . 8 Goa Congress MLAs defect to BJP . 2022-09-14 . The Indian Express . en.
  11. Web site: Another Setback to Congress in Goa, 8 Party MLAs join BJP including Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo. News18. 14 September 2022. 14 September 2022.
  12. Web site: Another Setback to Congress in Goa, 8 Party MLAs join BJP including Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo. Times of India. 14 September 2022. 15 September 2022.
  13. Web site: DH DECIPHERS | What is Operation Kamala 2.0?. 15 January 2019. Deccan Herald.
  14. Web site: What is Operation Kamal?. May 16, 2018.
  15. Web site: A fraternal fight that brought down the Karnataka government and threatens the next one. 24 July 2019. The News Minute.
  16. Web site: '2008ರ ಆಪರೇಷನ್‌ ಕಮಲ': ಕೆಲವರು ತೆರೆ ಮುಂದೆ, ಹಲವರು ತೆರೆಮರೆಗೆ - ಮಂಕಾದ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಕಲಿಗಳ ಬದುಕು. Vijay Karnataka. kn.
  17. Web site: 13 November 2019. After denying BJP role in their defection, all Karnataka rebel MLAs to join ruling party. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805105820/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/after-denying-bjp-role-their-defection-all-karnataka-rebel-mlas-join-ruling-party-112240. 5 August 2021. 2019-11-15. www.thenewsminute.com.
  18. News: The 15 MLAs who brought down Kumaraswamy government. The New Indian Express. 28 July 2019. 24 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190724162354/http://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2019/jul/24/the-15-mlas-who-brought-down-kumaraswamy-government-102416.html. live.
  19. Web site: 2019-11-14. 16 rebel Karnataka MLAs join BJP day after SC verdict, CM Yediyurappa welcomes them. 2021-08-05. The Financial Express. en-US. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104315/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/karnataka-15-rebel-mlas-join-bjp-cm-yediyurappa-welcome-them-into-party-fold/1764401/. live.
  20. Web site: November 14, 2019. 16 disqualified Congress-JD(S) MLAs join BJP, 13 get bypoll ticket | India News - Times of India. 2021-08-05. The Times of India. en. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104317/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bjp-fields-13-disqualified-congress-jds-mlas-for-assembly-bypolls-in-karnataka/articleshow/72054512.cms. live.
  21. News: Rebel-rousing in the Congress. Gowda. Aravind. 5 July 2019. India Today. 15 July 2019. 6 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190706183244/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20190715-karnataka-rebel-rousing-in-the-congress-1562059-2019-07-05. live.
  22. News: Karnataka crisis: Congress steps up efforts to persuade MLA to withdraw resignation from assembly. 14 July 2019. Times of India. 15 July 2019. Press Trust of India. 15 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190715031528/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/karnataka-crisis-congress-steps-up-efforts-to-persuade-mla-to-withdraw-resignation-from-assembly/articleshow/70216118.cms. live.
  23. Web site: The 15 MLAs who brought down Kumaraswamy government. The New Indian Express. 5 August 2021. 24 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190724162354/http://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2019/jul/24/the-15-mlas-who-brought-down-kumaraswamy-government-102416.html. live.
  24. Web site: "Serious Allegations ": Karnataka High Court Vacates Stay, Orders Thorough Investigation Against Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa in 'Operation Kamala' case. Mustafa. Plumber. 1 April 2021. www.livelaw.in. 5 August 2021. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104316/https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/karnataka-high-court-investigation-against-karnataka-cm-bs-yediyurappa-in-operation-kamala-case-171988. live.
  25. Web site: Karnataka High Court allows probe against Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in 'Operation Kamala' case. Rintu Mariam. Biju. Bar and Bench. April 2021 . 5 August 2021. 5 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220905220552/https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/karnataka-high-court-allows-probe-chief-minister-bs-yediyurappa-operation-kamala. live.
  26. News: Watch Operation Kamala not wrong, no regret: BSY . https://web.archive.org/web/20191231140237/https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/watch-operation-kamala-not-wrong-no-regret-bsy-724200.html. 31 December 2019. 11 October 2019 . Deccan Herald . 20 March 2019 . en.
  27. News: Mohammad . Akram . Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa may find going tough after May 2 . 7 April 2021 . Deccan Herald . 5 April 2021 . en . 6 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210406073712/https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-cm-bs-yediyurappa-may-find-going-tough-after-may-2-970753.html . live .
  28. News: Kumar. B. s Satish. 2018-12-12. 'Operation Kamala' will not help BJP provide stable govt., says Lahar Singh. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-08-03. 0971-751X. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104315/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/operation-kamala-will-not-help-bjp-provide-stable-govt-says-lahar-singh/article25728083.ece. live.
  29. Web site: 'Disgruntled' Congress MLA Hardeep Singh Dang Resigns from Madhya Pradesh Assembly. 2020-03-05. 5 August 2021. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104315/https://www.news18.com/news/politics/disgruntled-congress-mla-hardeep-singh-dang-resigns-from-madhya-pradesh-assembly-2527367.html. live.
  30. News: Operation Lotus? Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs land in Karnataka. The Economic Times. 2020-03-04. 5 August 2021. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805105817/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/operation-lotus-madhya-pradesh-congress-mlas-land-in-karnataka/articleshow/74483171.cms?from=mdr. live.
  31. Web site: Trouble for Congress in Madhya Pradesh as MLA Hardeep Singh Dang Resigns; 3 More Missing . 5 August 2021 . 5 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210805104316/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congress-mla-hardeep-singh-dang-among-4-missing-madhya-pradesh-legislators-resigns-from-assembly-2190632 . live .

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