No Vacation, Congress Makes Lawmakers In Bengaluru Attend 'Classes'

Bengaluru: The magnificent temple of Tirupati and the blue hills of Kodagu - the 43 legislators from Gujarat, who were rushed off to Bengaluru by the Congress last week, had some interesting plans on their "to do" list while spending their time down south. But instead, they remain at the Eagleton Golf Resort, attending classes on the "party's achievements in the last 60 years" and "the BJP's lies", news agency Press Trust of India reported.

"For the past four days, the Congress legislators have been busy with sessions, they are having training," said Youth Congress general secretary Srinivas BV.
 The travel plans had to be shelved because of optics, Congress leaders said. Gujarat is currently suffering from one of the worst floods in recent times and it would have been unseemly to have the lawmakers enjoy a holiday when their constituencies were suffering, said sources in the party.

The party had used the flood factor to attack the BJP in parliament. Senior Congress leaders have argued that politicking by the BJP over Rajya Sabha elections had forced its lawmakers to find sanctuary down south at a time when they needed to be in their constituencies to help the people. The party has alleged that the BJP had adopted twin tactics of bribery and intimidation. As much as Rs 15 crore was offered to the legislators for their support, the party said.
 The crisis in Gujarat had been triggered by the party's local heavyweight Shankarsinh Vaghela, who quit last week, upset over not being projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate ahead of this year's assembly elections. Six other lawmakers loyal to him quit as well and three of them joined the BJP.

The rattled Congress rushed off the rest of its flock to Bengaluru, fearing further defections that would have ruined the chances for Ahmed Patel, who is up for re-election on a Rajya Sabha seat.

Elections will be held on three seats of Gujarat next Tuesday. Two of the seats will go to the BJP because of its numerical strength in the assembly. On one, party chief Amit Shah will make his debut in Rajya Sabha, Union minister Smriti Irani will be re-elected from the other. The BJP has fielded Balwantsinh Rajput, a relative of Mr Vaghela, from the third seat, pitting him against Mr Patel.