‘Singapore conspiracy theory’ to sully JD(S) image further?

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Amid unconfirmed reports that Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy is camping in Singapore to poach on Congress legislators to bring down the government headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, there are some who feel this is an attempt by the ruling Congress to tarnish the image of the JD(S).

It has been a practice for Kumaraswamy to go on a foreign jaunt with his friends or family members after every session of the State Legislature for relaxation. Accordingly, the former CM left for Singapore two days ago to Singapore.

Deputy Chief Minister D K.Shivakumar has however accused the JD(S) leader of plotting to destabilize the threemonth-old government by trying to poach on Congress lawmakers.

The Kanakapura MLA went to the extent of saying several former and sitting JD(S) legislators have also gone to Singapore to work on poaching ruling party MLAs.

Those who doubt this claim assert that the Congress has 136 MLAs in its kitty and two independent lawmakers have extended their support to the party. So, the effective strength of the grand old party is 138 in a 224-seat Assembly.

If the Siddaramaiah government has to fall, more than 40 MLAs have to resign and join the opposition to reduce the incumbent government to a minority. More than that, all those MLAs who quit, have to win in bypolls.

The sources say this is unlikely to happen as they will have to face another election with no guarantee of winning given the proCongress wave prevailing in the state.