KCR offers shelter to JD(S) MLAs

Afraid of poaching of its MLAs by the BJP, the Janata Dal (S) has reportedly sought the help of KCR to save its legislators from the threat of poaching by the BJP.

In a quick response, KCR extended all-out support to the JD(S). The JD(S) leadership is also in touch with AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and has reportedly sought similar help from him.

Incidentally, the Chief Ministers of both the Telugu states are fighting a battle with the BJP for coldshouldering various issues pertain to them. The battle of Chandrababu Naidu with the BJP is much more fierce as he believes that the saffron party had betrayed the state by not according special category status.

The BJP won 104 seats in Karnataka and emerged as the single largest party in the just concluded Karnataka Assembly elections. On Thursday, BJLP leader BS Yeddyurappa took oath as Chief Minister who was given 15 days to prove majority in the Assembly.

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy spoke to the Telangana Chief Minister on phone and requested the latter to rescue his party MLAs from poaching by the saffron party. Sources said that the TRS supremo offered shelter to the JD (S) MLAs in Telangana. It is learnt that a group of MLAs will arrive in Hyderabad a day or two and stay at an undisclosed place on the outskirts of the city.

KCR had recently met JD(S) leader and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru and invited the Janata dal to join the proposed Federal Front – an alternative to the BJP and Congress at national level.

During his visit, the TRS leader also exhorted Telugu people in Karnataka to vote in support of the JD(S). Sources said KCR has already instructed his close aides to make arrangements for the JD(S) MLAs’ stay at a private place. A team of police officials from the state intelligence wing will escort the MLAs during their stay in Telangana.

In Amaravati, though JD(S) leaders are in touch with Naidu, Lokesh and others, the TDP is unable to take a call on whether to condemn the action of the Governor in calling the BJP to form government in Karnataka as if he does, it is more than likely that his detractors would paint him as one who is ready to join hands with the Congress.

According to sources, Naidu, at least for the time being, does not want to take the risk of being branded as one who is working in consort with the Congress. But his advisors want him not to lose the opportunity to slam the BJP.

"Once he takes a decision after discussing pros and cons with the MLAs and ministers on Friday, he would take a stand and then would respond to the request of the JD(S) for moral support in its fight against the BJP and logistic support when its MLAs camp in Visakhapatnam so that the long arm of the BJP would not reach them.