Madhya Pradesh political drama shifts to Bengaluru; CM Kamal Nath heads for Delhi

BHOPAL: In the early hours of Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shifted three to four Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs to Bengaluru. These legislators are at the heart of the crisis faced by 14-month-old Kamal Nath government in the state.
Amid the ongoing political turmoil, chief minister Kamal Nath is heading for Delhi.
Sources said the Congress MLAs have been shifted to the BJP-ruled southern state by former BJP minister Narottam Mishra and BJP MLA Arvind Bhadoriya. This was preceded by post-midnight drama at a Gurugram hotel after which Congress’s Digvijaya Singh alleged that BJP has confined seven to eight ruling alliance MLAs. Two Congress ministers fought to bring the MLAs back to the party's fold and succeeded in rescuing the two, including BSP legislator Rambai.
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Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Digvijaya said, “The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is secure and will complete its tenure of five years under chief minister Kamal Nath. We came to know of BJP’s activities and allurement after which we exposed them two days ago.”
Digvijaya claimed that some MLAs, who were lured by BJP, have come back. Those who have returned include BSP MLA Rambai and Congress MLA Aidal Singh Kansana.
"Former BJP ministers Narottam Mishra, Rampal Singh and Sanjay Pathak were in ITC Grand Manesar Hotel, waiting with the money,” Digvijaya said. “Since Haryana is BJP-ruled, we were stopped at the gate of the hotel. Rambai slapped some of the BJP men when she was stopped, and came back,” he added.
However, Narottam Mishra has denied any role in the drama. There is disgruntlement in Congress and BJP is nowhere in the picture, he said. Mishra denied he has flown to Bengaluru with Congress MLAs. He said over telephone, “I am in Delhi. Only my driver is here with me. If any MLA comes to meet us, it does not mean we are luring them with money.”
Asked where the missing Congress MLAs are, he said, “They are angry with their party’s government.”
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