Fuelling speculation about the possibility of the start of ‘Operation Lotus’, two rebel Congress MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi and K. Sudhakar — met Bharatiya Janata Party State president B.S. Yeddyurappa and senior leader R. Ashok at the residence of BJP leader S.M. Krishna on Sunday.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi said: “I am not alone. We are a team. We cannot disclose now when we will resign, but we will. For now, we are in Congress.”
When further quizzed about his intentions, he questioned media persons whether they would inform anyone prior to a sting operation, in yet another indication that the rebels would switch camps. This meeting has come a day after Mr. Jarkiholi met Umesh Jadhav, who switched from Congress to BJP and won the Kalaburagi Lok Sabha seat defeating M. Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr. Yeddyurappa’s personal assistant Santosh, was also present at the meeting, triggering speculation.