The day after the Congress has paraded 44 Gujarat MlAs before the media who are holed up in a posh resort on the outskirts of IT city Bengaluru, a political uncertainty in the party continued on Monday. Even though they are put up in a fortified resort under the watchful eyes of Karnataka Power Minister DK Shivakumar and his brother Member of Parliament DK Suresh, under the instructions of the Congress leadership, the Gujarat lawmakers are reportedly clueless and worried over political repercussion.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is under the instructions from the party high command, has been instrumental in bringing them here and working out strategies along with senior Congress leaders.
According to sources in the State Congress, the MlAs who are feeling restless will be shifted to resorts either Mysuru or to Madikeri which is seen as away from the glare of the media reach. Many MlAs are also want to go to Tirupati for a pilgrimage.
However, a source in the Congress said that still the party is worried and haunted by the threat of defection which is going to be a setback for the party ahead of Rajyasabha polls just a few days away. A senior Congress leader, who does not want to be named, said, “It is after Shankersinh Vaghela the Congress has been in disarray and failed to protect the flock from the BJP’s onslaught. Sonia Gandhi’s trusted aide for a long time Ahmed Patel is caught in the whirlwind. He is walking on a knife’s edge.”
Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar who is looking after them said on Monday that there will be an orientation course for them on current affairs to keep them engaged from the political heat.
They are also celebrating the birthday of 10 year old son of Kaminiben Rathod, the legislator from Gandhinagar.
Shivakumar ruled out any entertainment programmes for the 44 legislators but added some of them had expressed desire to visit Tirupati. “We are looking into that. Some of them want to go to Tirupati to have darshan. We have not taken any decision,” he said.
According to party sources it is crucial for the party to keep the flock together as they need 45 legislators to send Ahmed Patel to Rajyasabha. After the defection of six MlAs congress has now reduced to 51 and 44 lawmakers are in Bengaluru.
The party is also banking on two legislators from NCP and a rebel BJP MlA Nalin Kotadiya.
After Bihar, the BJP is taking all possible steps to seize the opportunity to destabilise the congress and leave no opportunity for the congress to regroup from political shocks to make Congress Mukth Bharat.