Bengaluru: Two days after Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that several legislators from both the BJP and the JD (S) were in touch with him and were ready to cross over to the Congress, said Former BJP Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, claiming that at least 16 MLAs from the Congress were in touch with him. “All of them will join the BJP if the BJP High Command gives the green signal,” Jarkiholi said.
Jarkiholi is confident that if the BJP’s top leadership in New Delhi approves, the Congress MLAs will defect without hardship. However, he did say that none of the JD (S) members will switch to the BJP before the poll next year.
For the past few days, the Gokak MLA has been meeting with BJP legislators at his Bengaluru residence. Vijayapura MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, was also present at the meeting, along with others. On Tuesday January 25, Congress leader Rajanna and MLC Rajendra are said to have met with Jarkiholi.
When 17 Congress MLAs defected to bring the BJP to power in the State, Jarkiholi claimed as least 36 were in his camp.