<p>Amid the fear of the BJP poaching the Congress and the JD(S) MLAs, embattled Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar chalked out counter strategies from the confines of his hospital ward on Thursday.</p>.<p>Shivakumar has been hospitalised for acute gastroenteritis following a suspected case of food poisoning. However, this did not stop him from engaging in hectic politicking.</p>.<p>Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was amongst the first to pay him a visit early Thursday morning.</p>.<p>Kumaraswamy later told reporters that aside from enquiring after Shivakumar’s health, he discussed the recent political development and the BJP’s attempts to poach the ruling party MLAs, “at length”.</p>.<p>While several Congress and JD(S) leaders like Eshwar Khandre, Ramalinga Reddy and A H Vishwanath too called on him, it was JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s visit to the hospital that added to the political intrigue.</p>.<p>Shivakumar, who was hospitalised on Tuesday, had stepped out the following day to address a press conference to counter BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s allegations.</p>.<p>The minister, who has come under the Enforcement Directorate's scanner, had charged that the BJP was targeting him as he had become a stumbling block to its ‘Operation Kamala’ mission.</p>.<p>The Congress leader, known as a master strategist, was instrumental in the formation of the coalition government. Shivakumar is likely to be discharged from hospital in a day or two.</p>
<p>Amid the fear of the BJP poaching the Congress and the JD(S) MLAs, embattled Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar chalked out counter strategies from the confines of his hospital ward on Thursday.</p>.<p>Shivakumar has been hospitalised for acute gastroenteritis following a suspected case of food poisoning. However, this did not stop him from engaging in hectic politicking.</p>.<p>Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was amongst the first to pay him a visit early Thursday morning.</p>.<p>Kumaraswamy later told reporters that aside from enquiring after Shivakumar’s health, he discussed the recent political development and the BJP’s attempts to poach the ruling party MLAs, “at length”.</p>.<p>While several Congress and JD(S) leaders like Eshwar Khandre, Ramalinga Reddy and A H Vishwanath too called on him, it was JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s visit to the hospital that added to the political intrigue.</p>.<p>Shivakumar, who was hospitalised on Tuesday, had stepped out the following day to address a press conference to counter BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s allegations.</p>.<p>The minister, who has come under the Enforcement Directorate's scanner, had charged that the BJP was targeting him as he had become a stumbling block to its ‘Operation Kamala’ mission.</p>.<p>The Congress leader, known as a master strategist, was instrumental in the formation of the coalition government. Shivakumar is likely to be discharged from hospital in a day or two.</p>
