Ahead Of Rajya Sabha Elections, Karnataka Congress MLAs To Stay Together At Bengaluru Hotel

In a desperate move to maintain unity ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls, all ruling Congress MLAs in Karnataka will convene at a hotel in Bengaluru on Monday (26 February) following the conclusion of the budget session of the state legislature.

This decision was disclosed by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress President, during discussions with reporters regarding the upcoming biennial election to fill four vacancies from Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha on 27 February.

"We have to be careful....all the MLAs will be staying together at the hotel, we will be coming together to vote (to Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday). We have extra votes. We will do whatever is necessary to secure our party. Others are also in touch with us. I don't want to disclose it," said Shivakumar.

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Recently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had scheduled a Congress legislature party meeting for Monday (26 February) afternoon, with AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and party treasurer Ajay Maken expected to be present.

Arrangements have been made to transport all MLAs from the hotel to the Vidhana Soudha, the state legislature and secretariat, in a bus for voting on Tuesday (27 February).

The ruling Congress, whose strength is 135 in the 224 member Assembly, along with the support of Darshan Puttanaiah from Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha and two Independents, is expected to retain the three seats.

While, the BJP and JD(S) with 66 and 19 members, respectively, are trying to win one seat together.

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