Bengaluru: Even as rebel Congress MLAs met veteran BJP leader S.M. Krishna, giving rise to speculations of an imminent Operation Lotus to poach MLAs from the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition, a rattled Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) rushed to the residence of CLP leader and former CM Siddharamaiah here last night to chalk out plans for thwarting Operation Lotus.

The two leaders, in a prolonged meeting, worked out strategies for saving the Coalition Government from collapse.

During the meeting, the two leaders are said to have discussed plans on expanding the State Cabinet by inducting three MLAs from the rebel camp.

At present, the State Cabinet has three vacant berths and the Congress and JD(S) leaders believe that filling them up immediately may put a brake on the BJP’s efforts to topple the Government through Operation Lotus, according to sources.