Another JD(S) MLA, and minister, Sa Ra Mahesh claimed the BJP had offered JD(S) leader H Vishwanath Rs 28 crore to defect. The money power that the BJP has in executing defections cannot be matched by the Congress or JD(S), a BJP legislator said. “We can give the rebels more of what they want,” said a BJP MLA linked to the defection strategy. It’s a shame that the Karnataka BJP is helping a former minister who is facing a probe in the IMA case. This shows how the state is blackmailing and treating their own MLAs,” the BJP said in a statement.

Source: Indian Express July 20, 2019 22:39 UTC