Congress legislators from Madhya Pradesh, around 45 to 50 in number, departed for Bengaluru from Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport in a chartered flight. The move was made in anticipation of the upcoming Rajya Sabha election on June 18. The departure, which included some MLAs with their family members, was marred by delays, leading to accusations of deliberate obstruction by the Congress party.
The MLAs gathered at the residence of Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar before heading to the airport. The flight’s delay, attributed to technical and procedural issues by the airport director, added to the already tense situation. Despite Congress leaders alleging intentional delays, the airport director clarified that the hold-up was due to unforeseen circumstances and necessary inspections.
The decision to shift the MLAs to Karnataka, a state governed by Congress, was a strategic move following the BJP’s nomination of a third candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. With concerns of potential cross-voting, Congress aimed to safeguard its interests by relocating its legislators. The political maneuvering is deeply rooted in the complex arithmetic of the state assembly, where every vote holds significant weight.
A tight floor-management battle looms as the election day approaches on June 18. Both Congress and BJP are engaged in efforts to secure the necessary votes for their respective candidates. For Congress, ensuring the unity of its MLAs in Bengaluru until polling day is crucial to prevent any last-minute surprises that could tilt the balance in favor of their opponents.
