The opposition Congress in Odisha has shifted eight of its members to Karnataka amid fears of cross-voting in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections, party leaders said on Friday.
On the other hand, the BJP, the main opposition party in the state, has asked all its legislators to attend “priority” meetings at party president Naveen Patnaik’s residence every evening from Friday to Sunday, according to a statement.
The Congress summoned all 14 of its members to the state capital Bhubaneswar on Thursday evening and then transferred eight of them, including Chief Whip CS Razin Ekka, to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, the leaders said.
Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam said: “Yes, eight of our MLAs have gone to Bengaluru so that they can be protected from horse-trading attempts by the BJP. The MLAs will remain united.”
“They are scheduled to return to Bhubaneswar on Monday and will go directly to the Assembly to cast their votes for Dhatsewar Hota,” another party leader said.
Among the MLAs transferred to the Congress-ruled southern state are Prafulla Pradhan, Manju Khela, Ashok Das, Pavitra Sunta, Rajan Ekka and Kadraka Appala Swamy, he added.
Congressional leaders have indicated that more lawmakers may join the group soon.
“Four more military aides are expected to reach Bengaluru by Saturday morning,” a Congress leader in Karnataka said.
Senior Congress leaders in the southern state are understood to have coordinated the arrangements for the Odisha MLAs.
According to party insiders, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar supervised the logistical arrangements for their stay.
The MLAs are currently staying at a resort in a park located about 35 km from Bengaluru, party leaders said.
Six members of the party are in Bhubaneswar to attend the ongoing budget session of the Assembly.
“I don’t know anything about party MLAs going to Bengaluru. I don’t need to go anywhere,” said Congress MLA Sophia Firdaus.
A total of four Rajya Sabha seats go to the polls, with five candidates in the fray.
According to the tally of the 147-member assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party is certain of obtaining one seat, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is certain of obtaining two seats. Neither party has 30 first-preference votes for the 4th seat.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has 79 MLAs and the support of three independents, a total of 82, eight short of the number required to elect three MLAs.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has 48 members after two of its members were suspended last month. After electing one MP, he will receive 18 first-preference votes, but will need 12 more to get the second seat. Congress has 14 MLAs, and CPI(M) has one.
The BJD has fielded Santropet Misra and Hota, who has the support of the Congress.
The BJP has named state president Manmohan Samal and outgoing MP Sujit Kumar as its candidates, and has supported independent candidate Dilip Rai.
The battle in this election is between Rai and Hota.
Congress’ decision to support BJD’s Hota is seen as politically significant in Odisha. The Bharatiya Janata Party ousted the Congress from power 26 years ago, and the two parties have long been rivals.
The two sides have now come together to prevent the BJP from winning three of the four Rajya Sabha seats that fell vacant in the state.
Meanwhile, the BJD has asked its aides to attend two-hour meetings at Navin Niwas from Friday to Sunday. The meetings will be held from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
