In the midst of reports that two more Congress MlAs from Gujarat are likely to quit the party on Monday, the party on Sunday paraded before the media 44 MlAs, who are holed up in a resort in Bengaluru, and accused the BJP of buying and threatening their MlAs.
On the other hand, stepping up attack on the Gujarat Congress for shifting its MlAs to Bengaluru amid flood-like situation in the State, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani alleged the decision was taken by party leader Ahmed Patel out of his “greed” to win the Rajya Sabha seat.
Rupani alleged that just like Sonia Gandhi’s putra moh (affection) for his son Rahul Gandhi sank the Congress in the country, Patel’s “greed and desperation” to save his Rajya Sabha seat will eventually sink the party in Gujarat.
The Chief Minister on Sunday reached the flood-affected Banaskantha district.
After interacting with the locals in Kankrej taluka and other affected regions, Rupani decided to stay in Banaskantha and Patan for the next five days to oversee the relief operations, a Government release said.
According to the Chief Minister, the Congress MlAs from Banaskantha and other affected regions should have stayed with the people in this difficult time.
Meanwhile, addressing a Press conference, senior Congress MlA from Gujarat Shaktisinh Gohil said, “Ask these MlAs the way they are threatened, they chose to stand by party even when offered Rs 15 crore,” he said.
“The BJP is hitting below the belt. We are fighting to protect democracy. We have required numbers. There is no need for us to stay here (Bengaluru) for even a minute if they (BJP) say, they won’t threaten,” Gohil said.
He also said they have established contact with the seven MlAs who were reportedly inaccessible.
“Seven MlAs are in our contact, their conscience is awakening. We have requested them to stick to the party,” he said.
After Congress’ fort started crumbling in Gujarat where seven MlAs have already shifted their loyalties to the BJP ahead of ensuing crucial Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress shifted their 44 MlAs to Bengaluru where ruling Karnataka Congress Government is providing them shelter and security. Powerful Congress MP DK Suresh has been put in charge of these MlAs who are fortified by heavy security.
Gohil claimed that the Congress has 60 legislators including three “others” supporting it. The BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah, Union Minister Smriti Irani and former Congress MlA Balwantsinh Rajput who joined the BJP last week.
However, there are reports that two more Congress MlAs from Jamnagar, who did not go to Bengaluru and stayed back in Gujarat are likely to submit their resignation from the party. Sources said that they are in touch with the BJP leadership here and quit the party within the next two days.
like Rupani, Ahmed Patel also visited the flood-affected region and expressed confidence that he has compete trust in existing Congress MlAs and they would make him victorious. He claimed that though Congress legislators were moved to Bengaluru and only return back on the day of RS polls on August 8, the Congress workers were active and helping flood-affected people in the State. He said that relief of Rs 500 crore announced by the Prime Minister was not adequate looking to the situation in the areas. The State Government must ensure that there shouldn’t be epidemic situation even after the floodwater recedes, he added.
Patel was accompanied by Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Bharatsinh Solanki and senior Gujarat Congress leader Siddharth Patel.