How the BJP bought MLAs and used other tricks to overthrow an elected government

Hyderabad: Buy them outright, or shake them up with offers or threats, and the BJP has mastered the art of getting lawmakers to change allegiance before overthrowing an elected government. In Telangana, however, the same trick was hissed, lawmakers called the police, and BJP operatives were arrested. Here’s a list, but not in chronological order, showing how the Saffron Party orchestrated the downfall of multiple governments across the country, with Operation Eknath Shinde being the latest.

• In March 2020, Madhya Pradesh’s Congress-led government was deposed by designing 22 MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia

• In Meghalaya, BJP outsmarted Congress despite winning only two seats in the 60-member House of Representatives in 2018; Congress won 21 seats, while CPP and BJP allies in Manipur all over the country People’s Party (NPP) wins 19 seats

• In Karnataka, Congress won 78 seats while Janata Dal (secular) won 34 seats. BS Yediyurappa insisted on forming a government despite the fact that the BJP was not at half the number. He was sworn in as CM but his government was unable to prove its majority and fell three days later. Congress seized the opportunity to form a coalition with JD(S) to demand the formation of a government. HD Kumaraswamy became CM. BJP begins horse deal, 16 rebel MPs and JD (S) MLA resign.Yediurapa returned to power in 2019

• Congress emerged as the largest single party in the 2017 Goa parliamentary elections with 17 seats in the 40-member parliament. It also needs four MLAs; BJP takes second place with 13 seats, but still makes deal, Parrikar becomes CM

• The BJP won 21 seats in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, while the Congress won 28.After tense negotiations, the BJP has formed the government with four MLAs of the ally NPP, five regional parties MLAs and one Congressional MLA who defected to the BJP

• In June 2022, the BJP managed to overthrow Uddhav Thackeray’s government by plotting a defection through senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. The BJP managed to poach more than 40 Shiv Sena and 10 independent MLAs to form a government.Allegations say each MLA gets tens of millions to change loyalty

• The Aam Aadmi Party said in August that the BJP had approached four Delhi lawmakers to change their positions and join the BJP or face “false cases, CBI and ED”

• In Arunachal Pradesh in 2014, Congress won 42 seats in a 60-member parliament; the BJP only had 11.Parliamentary ministry established under Nabam Tuki; but in 2016, 41 MPs joined the Arunachal Pradesh BJP and switched allegiance to the BJP in the same year

• In March 2016, the Uttarakhand Congress government led by Harish Rawat briefly stepped down after nine MLAs shifted to the BJP.While the president’s rules were imposed, the Supreme Court intervened and restored the government

• In June 2018, Mehbooba Mufti’s Jammu and Kashmir government collapsed as coalition partner BJP cancelled its alliance with the People’s Democratic Party