Operation Kamala


Operation Kamala is a term coined in 2008 to describe a political strategy allegedly used by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Indian state of Karnataka. The operation was allegedly led by former minister G. Janardhana Reddy and involved efforts to secure support from legislators of opposition parties. This approach enabled the BJP to bypass the provisions of the anti-defection law and achieve a majority in the state assembly.. The BJP has never officially accepted the allegations, and has dismissed the claims of Operation Kamala, calling it "a tactic to hoodwink the people."
The term "Kamala" refers to the lotus, which is the electoral symbol of the BJP. Operation Kamala is commonly used in Indian political discussions to describe alleged strategies involving the inducement or persuasion of MLAs and MPs from other parties—particularly the Indian National Congress —to support the BJP in forming or maintaining power in state legislatures where it does not have an outright majority.

Delhi

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged that "BJP has spent Rs 6,500 crore rupees on buying 277 MLAs, they also tried to buy Aam Aadmi Party’s MLAs in Delhi, and they offered 20 crores to each. They brought Rs 800 crores to buy MLAs of Delhi." Kejriwal conducted a floor test in the Delhi Assembly to prove that his government continued to have the majority in the assembly and BJP's alleged Operation Lotus in Delhi had failed to poach AAP MLAs. Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party successfully proved its majority in the legislature.

Goa

2019

In July 2019, fourteen members of the Indian National Congress swithched their paties and joined Bharatiya Janata Party, allegedly through Operation Kamala.

2022

On 14 September 2022, 8 Congress MLAs switched to BJP, alledly through Operation Kamala. Former Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, along with other 6 Congress MLAs joined Bharatiya Janata Party, after being seen in viral photos with Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, hours ahead of them formally joining BJP.

Karnataka

2008

The BJP won 110 seats in the assembly elections in May 2008, falling three seats short of a simple majority. With the backing of six independents, Yeddyurappa took the oath of office as chief minister of Karanataka to establish the first BJP administration in south India. It is claimed that to further secure the stability of the administration, the BJP allegedly lured seven MLAs—three from the Congress and four from the JD in an operation allegedly funded by mining tycoon and former BJP minister Janardhan Reddy of Bellary—by allegedly offering them money and power. The BJP scored five victories in the by-elections, bringing its total in the 224-member assembly to 115. This alleged operation was termed by the then opposition parties in the state as Operation Kamala
The MLAs who switched parties during the alleged Operation Kamala and resigned are J. Narasimha Swamy, Anand Asnotikar, Jaggesh, Balachandra Jarkiholi, K. Shivanagouda Naik. Umesh Katti and D. C. Gourishankar.

2019

and 16 other Congress and JD MLAs resigned from their posts. Ramesh Jarkiholi was one of the 14 MLAs from Congress and 3 from JD who resigned in July 2019, bringing down the HDK Congress-JD coalition and allowing B.S. Yeddyurappa to return to power. After Supreme Court ruling held up their disqualification but allowed them to run, Jarkiholi joined BJP along with all other rebels inducted by Yeddyurappa and other important persons.
Investigations
Reactions
  • In an interview with Deccan Herald in March 2019, B. S. Yediyurappa said "Operation Kamala was not wrong and I don't regret it. It is part of democracy."
  • Lehar Singh Siroya claimed that the BJP cadre in the State was “by and large against the Operation Kamala” as that would not help the party in the long term.
  • H. D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the BJP used Operation Kamala to affect the defections of MLAs from his government, causing it to fall.

    Madhya Pradesh

The crisis began when long loyalist Congress politician Jyotiraditya Scindia suddenly went to Delhi and resigned from Congress and joined BJP. This led to many supporters of him resigning from Congress as well.
Hardeep Singh Dang resigned from the assembly membership and consequently from Indian National Congress, citing in a letter, 'ignorance from his party' and then joined BJP on March 21, 2020, along with 21 others. Ultimately, this exodus led to the fall of the Kamal Nath government.