As the episode of alleged corruption in housing allotments took a serious turn with a ruling Congress MLA threatening to quit, the BJP mounted an attack at the Congress government, while its MP and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar predicted the collapse of the government claiming that a slew of Congress MLAs were keen to join the BJP.

“This government will not stay for long. It will fall, as Congress MLAs are upset with their party’s government. A lot of Congress MLAs, including Kagwad MLA Raju Kage, want to join the BJP,” Mr. Shettar told reporters in Belagavi on Monday, while responding to Mr. Kage’s statement that he was so upset with the slow pace of development work in his constituency that he might resign.

Mr. Shettar clarified that the BJP was not planning any ‘Operation Lotus’ to engineer defections from the Congress, but the Congress MLAs were volunteering to change their political loyalty.

Meanwhile, BJP veteran leader B.S. Yediyurappa told presspersons in Bengaluru that it was not just Mr. Kage who was upset with the government and wanted to quit.

“There are several other Congress MLAs who are upset with their government. Each of them are going to voice their dissatisfaction. You just wait and see,” he said.

Referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asking senior Congress MLA B. R. Patil to meet him to seek clarification on his allegations of corruption in allotments under housing schemes, Mr. Yediyurappa said the BJP was concerned that the Chief Minister may tried to silence Mr. Patil.

He accused the Congress government of trying to prevent senior leaders and prominent personalities from speaking out against it by issuing threats.

Mr. Yediyurappa said he would not only hold meetings of BJP workers, but would also tour the State to create public awareness about the government’s alleged misdeeds.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok launched a scathing attack at Mr. Siddaramaiah by asking him to protect the dignity of the State by tendering resignation to his post.