Karnataka BJP Claims 25 MLAs Ready To Join, "Take Them Now", Mocks DK Shivakumar

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Monday claimed that 25 Congress MLAs, including Cabinet ministers, would join the saffron party if elections were held now. The comment drew a sharp retort from Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who asked the state BJP chief to induct the leaders without wasting any time. While responding to a question on whether the BJP was trying to poach ministers from the ruling party, Vijayendra said the mood in the state had shifted in favour of the BJP and many Congress leaders would be ready to switch sides. "We have no such necessity (to poach), but I would say one thing clearly as the party's state president: even if elections are announced tomorrow, 25 legislators, including ministers in DK Shivakumar's Cabinet, would join the BJP. Such an atmosphere has already been created," Vijayendra told reporters.