Bangalore, July 29: The Congress has sent 40 of its legislators to a resort outside Bangalore to fend off “poaching” attempts by the BJP ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.
“Forty Congress MLAs have been taken to Bangalore so far. Four more will join them,” a senior party leader said on the condition of anonymity. The Congress in the state is rattled by the resignations of six MLAs in the last couple of days, ahead of the Rajya Sabha election in which the party has fielded Sonia Gandhi confidante Ahmed Patel as a candidate.
The erosion from its legislature party has cast a shadow on the fate of Patel as the party has to zealously guard against further desertion to ensure his victory in the poll due to be held August 8. Earlier Saturday, Congress’ state general secretary Nishit Vyas had claimed that the party had taken 44 MLAs to Bangalore and they were lodged in a resort around 50 km from the city.
Gujarat Congress legislature party chief whip Shailesh Parmar said, “Three MLAs, including me, Shaktisinh Gohil and another one, are yet to reach Bangalore. Another MLA is on a tour and he will reach Bangalore directly. Shaktibhai and myself had to remain here due for scrutiny of Rajya Sabha poll nominations forms.” “All of us, who are here in Gujarat, will leave for Bangalore tonight or tomorrow morning,” Parmar said.
PTI
