Congress shift 40 MLAs fearing desertion

The legislators came in two batches with 31 coming by flight from Ahmedabad and nine others from Rajkot, party sources indicated.

Stung by seven MLAs who defected to the BJP, the Congress in an attempt to keep its flock together resorted to politics fearing horsetrading by the BJP in Gujarat, party sources claimed.

Mr Shailesh Paramar, the Congress Chief whip in Gujarat Assembly, claimed that 40 MLAs had been shifted to Bangalore.

Karnataka Lok Sabha Member D K Suresh who arranged the trip after Congress high command apparently instructed the party in Karnataka to make arrangements for the MLAs however said the legislators were in the city for 'sight seeing'. "They are here to visit places of tourist interests. They will be going to different places in Bengaluru and also to Temple town of Tirupati," he claimed.

Congress has to safeguard the remaining party MLAs to ensure the victory of Mr Ahmed Patel, a confidant of party president Sonia Gandhi in the Rajya Sabha election.

After seven Congress MLAs had quit the party and their seats, the BJP which had earlier fielded party president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani, has now pitted the third candidate in anticipation of more desertions from the Congress ranks.

According to sources, MLAs who are in the city are - Patel Jyotabhai (Dhanera), Kharadi Kantibhai (Danta), Vaghela Manilal (Vadgaam), Patel Mahesh (Palanpur), Rabari Govabhai (Deesa), Khanpura Dharsinh (Kankrej), Chavda Ramesh (Kadi), Kotwal Ashwin (Khedbhrama), Josiyara Anil (Bhiloda), Thakor Rajendrasinh (Modasa), Rathod Kamini (Dahegaam), Baraiyaa Mahendra (Prantij), Thakor Bbaldev (Kalol), Payel Karamshee (Sanand), Gyasuddin Sheikh (Dariyapur), Parmar Rajendrasinh (Borsad), Chavda Amit (Anklaav), Patel Niranjan (Petlad), Parmar Poonam (Sjitra), Chauhan Gautam (Mahemdavad), Thakor Natwarsinh (Mahudha), Patel Hirabhai (Lunavada), Damor Gendalbhai (Santrampur) Sarasiya Mitesh (Jhalod), Panda Vajesinh (Dahod), Rathva Mohansinh (Chotaudaipur), Bhil Dhirubhai (Sankheda), Chaudhari Anandbhai (Mandvi), Gamit Punabhai (Vyara), Gamit Mangalbhai (Dang), Patel Iswarbhai (Dharampur), Punjabhai Vans, Javed Pirzada, Paresh Dhanani, Pravin Rathod, Indranil Rajyaguru, Harshad Ribdiya, Meraman Goria, Babubhai Vaja and Javahar Chavda.

The last nine named flew in from Rajkot at 5 AM today, while the remaining 31 came from Ahmedabad past midnight.

They were immediately taken to the resort on the outskirts of the city towards south, in buses by the party functionaries in Karnataka.

They were expected to visit Tirupati tomorrow.