Bengaluru, March 15 Two individuals have been arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs who are staying at a resort near here as part of the BJP's "Operation Lotus," Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar claimed on Sunday.
He alleged that the BJP has planned "Operation Lotus" and was offering Rs five crore to each of the Odisha MLAs, who were flown here ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls in that state.
Eight MLAs, along with some other Odisha Congress unit office bearers, are staying at the resort.
They were flown to Bengaluru with the apprehension of horse-trading during the Rajya Sabha elections in favor of the ruling BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate.
Shivakumar, also the Congress' Karnataka chief, said that two individuals were apprehended at the private resort for attempting to buy over the Odisha Congress MLAs.
"Four people came. One local person named Suresh helped them; they contacted him (an MLA) online. In the morning, they picked up our MLA. Our MLA told us that they offered Rs five crore for each vote. He (the Congress MLA) said that he is not for horse-trading," Shivakumar told reporters.
"The cheque and everything should be seized. A complaint will be filed at the police station. After that, whatever legal action is required will be taken," he added.
Shivakumar said that those caught have admitted that they came for the "same purpose".
"They have admitted it and the process is on to trace others. This is the great Operation Lotus carried out by BJP friends in Karnataka," the DCM said.
"Operation Lotus" is a term used by Congress to claim about attempts to topple a non-BJP government by the BJP whose party symbol is the lotus. It also involves getting the votes for their Rajya Sabha candidate from MLAs from other parties.
According to a Congress source, one of the individuals involved in the horse-trading is a defeated Lok Sabha candidate.
A source shared the photograph and blank cheques as well.
"They tried to negotiate with the Congress MLA by offering a blank cheque," the source said.
"Both have been caught and handed over to the Bidadi police," the source said.
Police sources said that they have been arrested.
According to Congress sources, the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha will take place on Monday. The BJP has fielded one more candidate, which raised apprehensions of horse-trading.
Congress and the Biju Janata Dal have fielded a candidate.