As Gujarat drowns, its Congress leaders continue their holiday at Rs 7,500 per room resort; plan Karnataka darshan

In order to save their numbers, the Congress party has holed up 42 of its MLAs from Gujarat at a luxury hotel in Bengaluru. They are likely to put up a unity parade extending support to the party's Rajya Sabha candidate Ahmed Patel. It is said that his nomination has created a storm in the party unit. According to a report by the TOI, Congress had flown the MLAs on Friday to stop them from switching over to the BJP. While two returned to Gujarat citing personal and political commitments, the rest paraded in support of Patel before the media. 

According to National spokesperson of the Congress and Gujarat MLA Shaktisinh Gohil, the BJP offered each of the MLAs Rs 15 crore, which proved to be an irresistible temptation, apart from a party ticket in the upcoming Gujarat polls and funds to contest. He said, "The BJP has resorted to low-level politics and is using money, muscle and state machinery to win polls. We have decided to stand by the party, and not allow the BJP to murder democracy." Gohil also said that the numbers were in Congress's favour as they have managed to establish contact with six of the seven legislators who resigned from the party to join the BJP. Gohil said, "In the 182-member Gujarat assembly, we have guaranteed support of 57 members though we need only 47 to elect Ahmed Patel.Three NCP and JD(U) legislators have agreed to support us, taking our strength to 60."

At a time when people of Gujarat are reeling undr severe floods, Congress has flown all its MLAs out of d state at a resort in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/mLAmRP8gcD

— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) July 29, 2017

The people of Gujarat suffering heavily fr floods Gujarat Congress MLAs enjoying at 5* Eagleton Resort in Bengaluru#ShameonGujCongress pic.twitter.com/MQv6PFFERq

— Nation First (@pankajsuper30) July 30, 2017

Pic1: Gujarat CM @vijayrupanibjp ji assisting Flood Victims.
Pic2: Congress MLAs feasting in Bengaluru Resort😣😑 #CongressResortPolitics pic.twitter.com/5kDaIwNlFl

— Shivam 🇮🇳 (@shivam7066) July 30, 2017

Congress Parades Its 44 MLAs Lodged In Bengaluru Resort, Accuses BJP Of Trying To Poach Them https://t.co/d7MRrnskWR pic.twitter.com/xqBbmpL1CI

— Outlook Magazine (@Outlookindia) July 31, 2017

Meanwhile, although Gohil had promised media with a one-on-one interview with the MLAs, media did not get any chance to speak to them as the MLAs were whisked away from the site of the parade under high security. Gohil, however, asked the media to support Congress in the name of democracy and highlight their point of view. 

A 'holiday' well spent

'Holed' up in a Rs 7,500-a-room Eagleton Resort, the Congress MLAs spent their time sightseeing and touring the temples. Speaking to the media, they refused to agree that they were held against their wishes and were just escaping the 'clutches' of BJP who had created an atmosphere of fear in Gujarat, luring legislators with huge amount of money and using government machinery to threaten the legislators. 

According to the resort's website, the charges of executive suites were as high as Rs 8500 including food and deluxe rooms were for Rs 7500 per day. The Gujarat Congress panicked after losing 6 of its MLAs to the BJP, ahead of the 8 August Rajya Sabha elections. However, unlike their claims to the media, they were heard telling their manager in Gujarati,  "We have been brought and kept here against our will. We want to go back to our constituencies as they are flood-hit and our people are affected."

Meanwhile, inside sources say that the lawmakers are enjoying their days in Bengaluru and especially love the weather. They are being planned to be taken to some temples and tourist spots in the state over the next few days. Meanwhile, Ashok Gehlot, the Gujarat Congress in-charge said, "This has been done to protect our MLAs. They are being threatened to join the BJP, which is using muscle, state and money power to poach our legislators." He further added,"The mobile phones of the MLAs have been taken away as nobody can threaten or coerce them."

Meanwhile, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said, "This is the internal problem of the Congress as its leader of opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela, its chief whip Balwantsinh Rajput and spokesperson Tajeshriben Patel have quit as they faced difficulties. They have taken their MLAs to Bengaluru as they do not have faith in their MLAs."

The Election Commission has also been dragged in the scene as Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala urged them to lodge a criminal case against the BJP for attempting to poach its MLAs using muscle and money. 

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