Odisha Congress MLAs moved to Bidadi resort amid fears of cross-voting ahead of Rajya Sabha polls

Bengaluru : In a significant political development, several legislators from the Indian National Congress in Odisha have been shifted to a resort near Bengaluru amid fears of cross-voting ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

According to party sources, eight Congress MLAs from Odisha have been moved to a resort in Bidadi along with their family members. The legislators are currently staying at the Wonderla Resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where arrangements have been made to keep them together until the election process is completed.

The move comes at a time when political activity has intensified ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for March 16. Congress leaders fear that attempts could be made to influence legislators before the crucial voting. As a precautionary measure, the MLAs were shifted out of Odisha and brought to Bengaluru.

Sources said the relocation of the MLAs was coordinated under the supervision of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who is known within the party for handling politically sensitive situations. Shivakumar reportedly arranged accommodation and security for the visiting legislators at the resort.

In total, around 14 people, including the MLAs and their family members, are currently staying at the resort. Local Congress leaders in Karnataka received the legislators after they arrived in the city. Security has been tightened around the resort premises to prevent any outside political contact.

The decision to move the MLAs was reportedly taken following consultations between Odisha Congress leaders and the Karnataka Congress leadership. Bhakta Charan Das, a senior Congress leader from Odisha, is said to have discussed the arrangements with D.K. Shivakumar before the legislators were flown to Bengaluru.

The political arithmetic in the Odisha Legislative Assembly has made the Rajya Sabha contest particularly sensitive. The Assembly has a total strength of 147 members. The Bharatiya Janata Party currently holds the support of 79 MLAs, while the Biju Janata Dal has around 48 legislators. The Congress has 14 MLAs, making its votes crucial in determining the outcome of one of the Rajya Sabha seats.

Political observers say that in such closely contested elections, even a few instances of cross-voting can significantly alter the results. This has prompted the Congress leadership to keep its MLAs together in a secure location until the voting process is completed.

The shifting of MLAs to resorts has become a familiar political strategy in India during crucial elections. By relocating legislators away from their home states, parties attempt to ensure unity within their ranks and prevent unexpected defections.

With the Rajya Sabha elections approaching, the presence of Odisha Congress MLAs at a resort near Bengaluru has added another layer of political drama to the contest, and political activity is expected to intensify further in the coming days.