Poaching fear: Karnataka MLAs camp in Hyderabad

​Hyderabad: The State capital witnessed high-voltage political drama on Friday as newly-elected Karnataka MLAs belonging to the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) were ferried to Hyderabad in order to safeguard them from probable poaching by the BJP, which claimed majority in that State.  

Amidst fears of poaching by Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s camp after the police security was removed at Eagleton Golf Resort where the Karnataka Congress legislators were holed up led the Congress high command to look for an alternative base. Of different neighboring States and cities, the Congress zeroed in on Hyderabad primarily because of the party senior leader T Subbarami Reddy owning a leading five-star hotel - Park Hyatt - in the city. The Congress leaders felt Subbarami Reddy’s star hotel was a safe bet for keeping of both the Congress and JD(S) legislators. 

After taking oath, Yeddyurappa recalled police forces guarding Eagleton Resort which came as a shock for not only Karnataka Congress camp but also for the AICC leadership in New Delhi. Senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other key leaders went into a huddle after taking high command into confidence, and Hyderabad was finalised as the secured location for them.

The Congress and the JDS lawmakers started their 569 km bus ride from Bengaluru to Hyderabad late Thursday night and reached Hyderabad in the morning. The buses carrying legislators first went to Park Hyatt, but due to non-availability of 120 vacant rooms, they had to look for alternative options. Then Congress legislators were shifted to Hotel Taj Krishna, while JD(S) MLAs were accommodated in Novotel in Shamshabad.

Sources in Telangana Congress camp said the party high command was directly involved in the entire planning, travel arrangements and accommodation for Karnataka legislators in Hyderabad. MLA Vamshichand Reddy and Youth Congress president Anil Kumar Yadav got necessary directions from the high command to take care of arrangements in Hyderabad after Karnataka lawmakers started their journey to Hyderabad.

Karnataka Congress’ DK Shiva Kumar, who is frontrunner for the Deputy CM post if Congress-JD(S) combine forms the government is learnt to have come forward to take care of his party lawmakers stay in Hyderabad.
With Karnataka Governor giving two weeks’ time to Yeddyurappa to win the floor test, the Congress and the JD(S) initially thought of nearly two-weeks stay in Hyderabad to protect their flock. Hence majority of lawmakers carried heavy luggage and bags with them.

However, their plans had to be changed following the Supreme Court ordering the floor test at 4 pm on Saturday. In less than 24 hours after reaching Hyderabad, they all had to pack their bags and head for Bengaluru.

Senior leaders from Telangana Congress made a beeline to Taj Krishna all through the day to meet and greet their party colleagues from neighbouring State. In former MP V Hanumantha Rao’s words, it was Telangana Congress’ duty to provide hospitality to their Karnataka counterparts as Yeddyurappa’s camp intensified poaching efforts by removing police security to them.

By: Mahesh Avadhutha