"Our legislators have been offered Rs 100 crore and cabinet seats by the BJP in return for support. Where are the Income Tax officials now?" the former CM asked at a press conference. The JD-S leader named Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for the offer as the BJP, he said, was desperate to form a government and deny the JD-S a chance to form a government with Congress backing.

"This attempt by the BJP to poach our legislators will backfire as there are people who are willing to leave the BJP to support us," he alleged. The JD-S and Congress together have the required majority to form the government, he said. The party's state president ruled out aligning with the BJP this time, to avoid hurting his father, former PM H D Deve Gowda.