Congress Moves 44 Gujarat MLAs to B’luru, Accuses BJP of Poaching
Ahmed Patel has been fielded by the Congress for the 8 August Rajya Sabha polls. He will contest from Gujarat.
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- Congress spokesman Shaktisinh Gohil, on 30 July, accused the BJP of attempting to poach its MLAs by offering them bribes of Rs 15 crore
The BJP also offered the Congress MLAs tickets to contest the upcoming assembly polls, Gohil alleged
Congress has shifted 44 MLAs to Bengaluru resort to avoid “poaching by BJP” - Congress leaders have registerd their complaints with the EC
- 6 MLAs quit Gujarat Congress after Vaghela’s resignation, more MLAs are expected to follow suit
- Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls on 26 July. He will contest from Gujarat
Gujarat Congress MLAs Hole Up in B'luru Resort to Avoid Being Poached by BJP
The Congress, on 30 July, paraded 44 of its legislators from Gujarat before the media in an effort to put to rest all speculation, including internal bickering in the party, as charged by BJP.
Speaking at a press conference, Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil asserted that there was no rift in the party and that the “BJP cannot divide” the party.
Forty four MLAs from Guajrat were moved to a resort in Bengaluru to avoid being “poached” by the BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.
Gohil claimed that the MLAs had to be holed up at the Magnolia Resort in Bengaluru because they were allegedly being lured by the BJP with a Rs 15 crore bait and tickets to contest the forthcoming Assembly polls.
The Indian Express also quoted Gohil as saying:
Amid rumours of the MLAs getting luxury treatment at the Bengaluru resort, the party has been criticised for the MLAs’ absence from their constituencies when Gujarat is flood-ravaged.
EC Seeks Enquiry Report: Reports
According to Times of India, the Election Commission officials have sought an enquiry report from the Gujarat Chief Secretary on the allegations made by the Congress.
The EC has further asked the State government to ensure the security of its MLAs.
People Stranded in Floods, But Cong not Bothered: BJP
Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav slammed the Congress for having disconnected mobile phone connections of the MLAs in Bengaluru, even as the state is reeling in floods.
Our MLAs Were Bribed, Threatened: Congress to EC
According to News 18, The Congress Leaders who met the Election Commission officials in Delhi today brought up the instance of the three MLAs who were allegedly bribed by the BJP to join their ranks on Friday.
They also said that by forcing their MLAs to deflect, the sanctity of the Rajya Sabha was being violated.
MLAs Not Allowed Outside Resort: Reports
Under a complete lock-down imposed by the Congress, the MLAs holed up inside the Bengaluru resort are reportedly not allowed to step outside the premises.
According to Republic TV, the MLAs have also been denied usage of any electrocution devices like mobile phones and laptops inside the resort. The channel also reported that top leaders from the party are soon expected to meet the MLAs.
Locked Down MLAs Enjoy Sumptuous Lunch in Resort
The 40-odd MLAs who’ve been shifted to the Eagleton Resort in Bengaluru were seen enjoying their lunch. According to Ahmedabad Mirror, the arrangements have been made by Karnataka Congress politicians DK Suresh & DK Sivakumar.
Speaking to the daily, three Congress MLAs said their loyalty should not be questioned, and expressed their desire to get back to Gujarat.
The MLAs are currently not allowed to step outside the resort, reported NewsX.
Congress Top Brass to Meet EC Today at 5 pm
According to ANI, Congress top brass comprising Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Singh, Abhishek Singhvi and Manish Tewari will meet the Election Commission over the defection of Gujarat Congress MLAs to BJP.
Gujarat Congress Chief Calls for Party meet
According to TV9 Gujarati, the state Congress chief Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki has called for a party meet at the Ahmedabad city office at 3:30 pm.
More MLAs to Resign, Patel's Victory is Impossible: Congress MLA
Amid the exit of six Congress MLAs ahead of Rajya Sabha polls, a senior party legislator has said Ahmed Patel will find it difficult to win the elections as more Opposition lawmakers are likely to resign in the days to come.
Ahmed Patel has been fielded by the Congress for the 8 August Rajya Sabha polls.
Congress MLA Raghavjee Patel, considered close to former party strongman Shankersinh Vaghela, indicated he would also resign and join the BJP.
Another Congress MLA from Jamnagar, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, also indicated he would leave the party.
Cong Shifts 44 Gujarat MLAs to Bengaluru Resort
In a move to guard its MLAs in Gujarat from being "poached" by the BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls in that state on 8 August, the Congress leadership has decided to "shift" them to Bengaluru.
The MLAs reportedly reached the resort at 5:30 am, Saturday morning.
“Looking at the current situation (in Gujarat), where attempts are being made to lure our members, we are taking 46 of our MLAs to Bengaluru tonight,” said a senior party leader, requesting anonymity.
“To ensure BJP is not successful, 44 of us Congress MLAs are leaving from Gujarat for Bengaluru,” Shailesh Parmar, a Congress MLA said.
3 Cong MLAs Allege They Were Bribed by BJP
On Friday, the Congress leadership alleged that three of their MLAs had been bribed by the BJP to join their ranks.
Speaking to Times of India, the three MLAs-- Punabhai Gamit from Vyara, Mangal Gavit from Dang and Ishvarbhai Patel from Dharampur, who were allegedly offered bribes said that they were not only promised a ticket in the 2017 assembly elections but were also offered Rs 10 crore cash.
Randeep Singh Surjewala, the media in charge for the AICC, demanded that Amit Shah and Vijay Rupani come forward and answer the allegations levelled by his party members.
6 Congress MLAs Quit Party After Vaghela's Resignation
Three more Congress MLAs Mansingh Chouhan, Ramsinh Parmar and Chhanabhai Chaudhary have resigned from the party and handed over their resignations to the Assembly speaker on Friday. With this, the count of Congress MLAs leaving the party has reached six.
Earlier on Friday, three Congress MLAs PI Patel, Balwantsinh Rajput and Tejashree Patel had resigned from the party, and joined the BJP, ahead of the state Assembly’s two-day monsoon session on 8-9 August and the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on 8 August.
Soon after their resignation, the three MLAs arrived at the BJP office in Gandhinagar, where they were initiated into the party.
In the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, 57 were Congress members, until the MLA exodus began on Thursday, reducing the party’s strength to 51.
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Published: 29 Jul 2017,01:55 PM IST