Karnataka Forest Minister Satish Jarkiholi warned in Belagavi on July 6 that the ruling coalition would respond in kind if the BJP lured away its legislators. “We know how to save our government. If our MLA s are poached, we will poach theirs,” he told reporters.

Coalition’s warning

Jarkiholi was asked whether the Congress would launch its own operation to counter what is called the BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’. He said both the Congress and the JD(S) would do so, and that the Congress had already put a team together for the purpose.

BJP leaders head to Bengaluru

Meanwhile, a group of leaders from Belagavi and surrounding areas flew to Bengaluru from Sambra airport. Among them were two BJP MLAs, Umesh Katti and Govind Karajol, as well as Congress MLC Vivekrao Patil and N.H. Konareddi, a former MLA.

Katti told reporters that a BJP government led by B.S. Yeddyurappa would soon take office in the State. He denied that his party was trying to destabilise the coalition, blamed former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the turn of events, and said the BJP would welcome Siddaramaiah if he wished to join.

Patil, a loyalist of MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, also predicted a BJP government and said he hoped his leader would be made deputy chief minister. Ramesh Jarkiholi had already sent the Speaker his resignation on July 1.

Karajol rejected claims that the BJP was behind the resignations. “They are quitting due to their own internal contradictions. Why blame us?” he said.

What happened next

The JD(S)-Congress government led by H. D. Kumaraswamy, in office since 23 May 2018, fell in July 2019, and B. S. Yeddyurappa returned as Chief Minister.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party | Indian National Congress | State assembly members

Originally published on 8 July 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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