The political drama in Karnataka is taking more turns and twists than a typical Sandalwood movie.
The political drama in Karnataka is taking more turns and twists than a typical Sandalwood movie. The Congress party in Karnataka Sunday issued notices to its four MLAs seeking explanation from them for their absence at the Legislature Party meeting. Meanwhile, another lawmaker has been admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru after an alleged fight with another MLA on Sunday.
According to unconfirmed reports, Hosapete MLA Anand Singh has been admitted to a hospital after sustaining a head injury following a fight with Kampli MLA J N Ganesh at the resort were these lawmakers are being kept.
Ganesh hit a bottle on Anand's head following a heated argument during a party, the reports quotes sources in the Congress as saying. Anand was immediately rushed to a hospital by other MLAs present at the party, said the reports.
However, Congress leader DK Shivkumar has denied any fight between the two.
Speaking to the media, Shivakumar rubbished reports that the two MLAs were involved in a brawl. “There was no fight, no assault, no liquor bottles; both the MLAs will speak to the media soon,” he said.
Congress leader DK Suresh, who visited the hospital to meet him, said Singh was admitted due to chest pain.
“I don’t know about the fight. Anand Singh is admitted in hospital due to chest pain. There are no injuries or anything. His parents are here at the hospital. Other issues are just speculations,” ANI quoted Suresh as saying.
Karnataka deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara downplayed reports of such events at the resort. “When one of our colleagues isn’t well, if it’s true, naturally somebody would’ve gone to see him. I don’t know who the person is,” Parameshwara said according to ANI.
BJP, however, was quick to pounce upon the reports. The party said it was the proof of infighting within the Congress. BJP also demanded that the Congress suspend the MLA responsible for the attack.
“What more proof do we need to tell all is not well within Congress. Congress MLA’s in Eagleton resort indulged in a physical fight and one MLA is admitted. How long will Congress be in denial mode and blame BJP for all their differences? When political party is lame, it loves to blame,” BJP Karnataka tweeted.
Congress issues notice to 4 MLAs who skipped CLP meeting
The Congress on Sunday issued notices to its four MLAs seeking an explanation from them for their absence at the Legislature Party meeting, asking why no action should taken against them under the anti-defection law.
The notices were sent to Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped as minister in the recent cabinet rejig and is said to be extremely unhappy over it, B Nagendra, Umesh Jadhav and Mahesh Kumatahalli, Congress sources said.
Exposing fissures in the party, the four lawmakers had skipped the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meet Friday, which was called as a show of strength against the BJP's alleged attempt to topple the party's coalition government with the JD(S) in the state.
The absence of the four lawmakers posed no imminent threat to the seven-month-old Congress-JD(S) government in the numbers game but suggested that all was not well within the Congress which is still wrestling with dissidence.
In the notice issued to Jarkiholi, while seeking a response from him for not attending the meeting, CLP leader Siddaramaiah has also sought an explanation about the media reports that he was joining the BJP and about his visit to Delhi and Mumbai to meet saffron party leaders.
Asking as to why he has not issued any statement so far rejecting these reports, the CLP leader said, "Your conduct suggests that you will voluntarily quit from the membership of the Indian National Congress. You have got elected as a legislator on Congress symbol and cannot quit as party member under the Constitution."
Ahead of the meet, Siddaramaiah had issued notices to all party MLAs, warning that their absence would be viewed "seriously" and action initiated according to the anti-defection law.
Soon after the CLP meet, which was attended by 76 MLAs, the Congress legislators were shifted to a resort on the city outskirts in a counter move to BJP's alleged toppling bid.
The BJP legislators, who were camping at a luxury hotel in Gurugram, returned home last night.
(With PTI Inputs)
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 "Karnataka Political Battle")
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