Kerala’s politicians, journalists and the sections of the general public with a thirst for hot news spent several hours on the needle-point of suspense since Thursday afternoon after news spread that the Congress and Janata Dal (S) in Karnataka might smuggle their MlAs out to Kochi to insulate them against the so-called horse-trading by the BJP which needed to find extra manpower to win the numbers game in the Assembly.
Sighs of relief were heaved only after 9.15 AM Friday when it was proved that the talks about the Karnataka MlAs’ Kerala sojourn were mere rumours or unconfirmed considerations after reports came in that the MlAs of both the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) had safely reached Hyderabad and would be staying at hotels there — most probably — till the air cleared.
The first rumours in Kerala were that leaders in Karnataka had been inquiring at five-star hotels and resorts in Kochi and Alappuzha about availability of accommodation and security arrangements.
However, word soon came from NCP MlA and former Kerala Minister Thomas Chandy that his lake Palace Resort in Alappuzha had not received any such inquiry.
By evening, a 24X7 national news channel “identified” the hotel at Fort Kochi where the Karnataka MlAs would stay after landing by a special chartered aircraft at the Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery, 36 KMs away, by Thursday midnight. However, sources at the particular hotel refused to confirm whether they had any bulk booking from Karnataka.