As the Karnataka election potboiler seems to gathering steam, a recent report by the Karnataka Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has stated that out of the 221 newly elected MLAs, 215 (97%) are crorepatis.

This comes just after HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (S) alleged that BJP has been trying to poach their MLAs - Rs 100 crore for each defecting MLA. 

The report, which is based on the analysis of self-sworn affidavits of 221 out of 222 newly elected MLAs in the Karnataka 2018 Assembly Elections, states that 97% of the elected MLAs are crorepatis. 

MLAs worth 100 crores too make a cut in the newly elected Assembly. 

1 out of 103 MLAs analysed from BJP, 11( 14%) out of 78 MLAs from INC, 3 (8%) out of 37 MLAs from JD(S) and 1 (100%) MLA from Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party have declared assets valued more than Rs 100 crore, according to the ADR report. 

The report reveals that the average assets per MLA in the Karnataka 2018 elections is pegged at Rs. 34.59 crore. In 2013, the average assets of 218 MLAs analysed was Rs 23.54 crore.

The three richest MLAs are from the Congress. M Nagaraju, DK Shivakumar and Suresh BS have assets worth Rs 1015 crore, 840 crore and 416 crore respectively. 

Kumaraswamy alleged that BJP approached 32 of his lawmakers but "none of my MLAs agreed". 

"They have promised people in my party 100 crores in cash and cabinet posts. Where is this black money coming from? Where are the income tax officials? I urge Karnataka people to understand what is happening," Mr Kumaraswamy said.

"If people have forgotten Operation Lotus, I want to remind everyone," he added, referring to the term used to describe the defection of lawmakers from the Congress and JDS to the BJP in 2008.