Flew MLAs to Bengaluru to save democracy: Congress counters BJP

Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil today accused the BJP of trying to break the party and said that its MLAs from Gujarat had to be moved to Bengaluru to fend of the Bharatiya Janata Party's poaching attempts.

Gohil paraded the Gujarat Congress MLAs before mediapersons in Bengaluru. The MLAs were flown to Bengaluru after six legislators resigned from the Gujarat Assembly just ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.

"Our legislators have not come here to enjoy. We brought them here to save democracy as they were being poached by BJP, using money and muscle power," Shaktisinh Gohil in response to the BJP's allegations that the MLAs are 'relaxing' in Bengaluru while their home state battles the aftermath of widespread flooding.

Gohil went on to slam the Vijay Rupani BJP government in Gujarat for ignoring the people affected by floods in the states, Shaktisinh Gohil said, "The BJP MLAs were not worried about the floods. They were busy trying to break the Congress."

Gohil further alleged that the BJP had tried to bribe its MLAs in an attempt to get them to switch over their loyalties. "Ask these (Congress) MLAs (present at the Bengaluru resort) the way they were threatened. They chose to stand by party even when offered Rs 15 crore (by the BJP)."

The BJP, however, rejected the allegation that it was behind Congress MLAs walking out of the party. Union minister Prakash Javadekar also wondered if Congress lawmakers quitting the organisation were "purchasable".

"Gujarat Congress leaders are levelling allegations at the BJP in Bengaluru. It is like a thief criticising a cop. If their leaders are leaving them, it has nothing to do with us," Javadekar told news agency PTI in New Delhi.

"The Congress should look inwards and think why such senior leaders are leaving it. The truth is that its only goal is to save Rahul Gandhi in the country and Ahmed Patel in Gujarat," he said, refering to the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in which Congress loyalist Ahmed Patel is up for re-election.

'CONGRESS'S GREED'

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who reached flood-hit Banaskantha today, too criticised the Congress decision to fly MLAs out of the state and said that the move was made by Ahmed Patel out of his "greed" to win the Rajya Sabha election poll.

"Sonia Gandhi's love for her son Rahul has drowned the Congress across the country. Similarly, Patel's greed to save his Rajya Sabha seat will sink Congress in Gujarat," Rupani said.

Rupani claimed Patel "forced" Congress MLAs from areas hit by floods to fly to Bengaluru.

Patel, who also visited flood-affected Banaskantha district today, mounted a counteroffensive against Rupani, alleging, "Our MLAs were forced to leave Gujarat as they and their family members were being tortured by the state government."

The Congress heavyweight said before the MLAs from flood ravaged areas flew out of the state they had started relief camps and were still keeping a close watch on the situation from Bengaluru.

RAJYA SABHA ELECTION AND GUJARAT

Six of the Gujarat Congress MLAs had resigned last week following which the party sent 44 of its legislators to the Eagleton Gold Resort outside Bengaluru city. Of the six who quit the party, three have joined the BJP. In the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, the strength of the Congress has gone down to 51 from 57.

The resignation of the Congress MLAs came just ahead of August 8 election for three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat.

Shaktisinh Gohil claimed that Congress has 60 legislators including three "others" supporting it. Gohil ruled out that the BJP would win all the three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat.

BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and former Congress MLA Balwantsinh Rajput who joined the BJP last week.

Of the total of 11 RS members from the state, the term of three - Smriti Irani and Dilipbhai Pandya (both BJP) and Ahmed Patel- will end on August 18.

(With inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ |

Gujarat Speaker denies horse trading claims as Congress knocks Election Commission's door

ALSO WATCH | Gujarat MLAs exodus: Congress leaders approach Election Commission