government. I know they are threatening MLAs. A Congress MLA told me Anand Singh called him and told him 'they are using ED (Enforcement Directorate), I had a case in ED and they are going to screw me. I'm sorry I have to protect my interest'," Mr Kumaraswamy said, quoting Anand Singh. Yesterday, he had alleged that Rs 100 crore and cabinet positions were being offered to his lawmakers.The Congress and the JDS together staked claim to power with 116 lawmakers, but the governor last evening invited the BJP, which won 104 seats but is eight short of the majority mark of 112.Anand Singh faces charges of illegally transporting iron ore. He was arrested in 2013 and released on bail two years later.Anand Singh was in the BJP15 days given by the Governor.Another Congress lawmaker, Pratapgouda Patil, was not on the bus last night.Pratapgouda Patil, 63, describes himself as an "agriculturist" and was famously dubbed the "poorest" legislator in Karnataka in the previous election.

Yesterday, he was present during the morning headcount when all lawmakers had to sign on a list. Then he vanished.Independent MLA R Shankar is with the Congress, for now. But he remains a flight risk. In the past two days, he has gone back-and-forth almost faster than one could say Karnataka.