Karnataka: Congress lodges MLA in resort to avoid BJP poaching
Bengaluru, Jan 18 (IBNS): The Congress has lodged all its MLAs who had come to the legislative party meeting earlier this morning, in the Eagleton Resort on the city outskirts to keep them safe from BJP poaching.
Reports said the MLAs reached the resort around 9pm.
Four Congress MLA remained away from the meeting adding fuel to speculations that the BJP is trying to topple its government led by H.D.Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular).
According to reports, the four MLAs who remained absent are Ramesh Jarkiholi, B Nagendra, Umesh Jadhav and Mahesh Kumathahalli.
"I am sending notices to those absent and seeking an explanation. Then I will speak to the high command," said former CLP leader Siddaramaiah, a former chief minister.
“This meeting was called because the media has been speculating that many MLAs are deserting us. We have said that nobody has gone with BJP and that they are the ones creating such rumours. This has become true because all the MLAs apart from absentees have attended. Of 80 MLAs, 76 were present and one nominated member,” Siddaramaiah said.
During the meeting, Umesh Jadhav sent a message he was unwell and was unable to travel.
B. Nagendra, on the other hand, said he had a court hearing in Mumbai. "I have business there (in Mumbai) and go there from time to time. Don't take it in any other way that I was in contact with someone," he said.
Ramesh Jarkiholi has not hidden the fact that he was upset after being removed from the cabinet and has reportedly remained incommunicado since Tuesday. Mahesh Kumathahalli has also not contacted the party.
Speculations have been rife that the Congress MLAs are meeting BJP leaders in Mumbai.
The Congress party has decided to take its MLAs and MPs to the Eagleton resort on the Bengaluru suburbs to keep them away from the BJP and discuss the Lok Sabha elections.
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