Amid the political crisis in Karnataka, 10 MLAs boarded a plane to Mumbai yesterday. They are currently lodged at the Sofitel hotel. This comes after 13 MLAs of the Congress-JDS submitted their resignations yesterday.
The MLAs were spotted arriving at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport at Bangalore from where they boarded a private charter flight. At about 8:35 pm they arrived at the Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.
10 #Karnataka Congress-JD(S) MLAs arrive at Mumbai airport. pic.twitter.com/vGjDxMADs9
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2019
Meanwhile, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has said that MLAs that have submitted their resignation have been associated with the party for a long time. He said that he has faith they would remain loyal to the party.
Mallikarjun Kharge: Many of the MLAs who want to leave Congress have been associated with the party for a long time. I’ve faith that they’ll stay with us & support the party. I’m going to Bengaluru. I’ll make further comments after looking at the ground situation there.#Karnataka pic.twitter.com/2EgSY8gC0Y
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2019
Kharge had blamed the BJP behind the current crisis in Karnataka. He questioned, “How it is possible to arrange a special flight to Mumbai without the support of the BJP’s Central leaders”.
While some reports allege BJP members helped MLAs fly out to Mumbai, the BJP has denied any involvement in it. In fact, Union Minister and BJP leader Pralhad Joshi have blamed the Congress party for the current crisis. He said that the entire party was planning to throw the CM HD Kumaraswamy.
Union Minister&BJP leader Pralhad Joshi on political situation in K’taka: Congress party as a whole is trying throw out HD Kumaraswamy. It’s Congress party’s game plan to out HD Deve Gowda&family. Siddaramaiah is responsible, also some senior Congress leaders are involved in it. pic.twitter.com/JnqB1lhUoR
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019
Karnataka: JD(S) leaders HD Revanna, D Kupendra Reddy, HK Kumaraswamy, and DC Thammanna have also joined the meeting between Congress leader & Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar and JD(S) leader & former PM, HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/ENcGKCFzTJ
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019
Maharashtra Youth Congress workers including its vice-president
Suraj Singh Thakur have been detained by police during their protest outside Sofitel hotel asking #Karnataka Congress MLAs to take back their resignation. pic.twitter.com/qLuXQVSqBF— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019
BJP MLC Prasad Lad was spotted outside the same hotel. He, however, said that he was busy with the party’s membership drive and was aware of the current situation in Karnataka.
#Maharashtra: BJP MLC Prasad Lad outside Sofitel Mumbai BKC hotel in #Mumbai, where 10 Karnataka Congress-JD(S) MLAs are staying. pic.twitter.com/EJYFwft0cj
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019
As reported by News18, JDS chief Deve Gowda has publicly accused former CM Siddaramaiah of orchestrating the political crisis in the state. “I know Siddaramaiah is behind the political turmoil in the state. Those who had resigned are his supporters”, said the former PM.
Reportedly, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy had gone to the US on a personal visit. It was to lay the foundation stone for constructing Sri Kala Bhairaveshwara temple at New Jersey on June 30. He had also attended a convention that began on July 4th. Just today, he had landed in Delhi in transit and had boarded a special flight to Bangalore. He would be meeting with his party members this evening.
The current political turmoil had been triggered by the resignation of 13 Congress-JDS MLAs yesterday. The coalition needs a minimum of 113 legislators to remain in power. Currently, they have 116 MLAs in the 224-member state assembly. If the resignations of the 11 lawmakers are accepted, the alliance will fall short of the majority mark.
