They will return to Bengaluru only on the eve of mayoral polls on Sept. 10 to avoid poaching
Congress corporators in the luxury bus in Bengaluru that was hired to take them to Madikeri on Monday (Photo: DC)
Bengaluru: Fearing they will be poached by the BJP, the ruling Congress party on Monday moved every one of their 76 newly-elected BBMP councilors to two resorts in Madikeri in Kodagu district.
Three air-conditioned private buses carrying the councilors and their family members left Bengaluru at 4 pm en route to the five star Taj Madikeri and Club Mahindra resorts in Madikeri. The male corporators travelled alone; the women councilors were accompanied by their husbands and children. The councilors will return to Bengaluru on September 10, a day ahead of the September 11 mayoral polls.
Wary of moves by BJP leaders to woo newly elected members of BBMP, the ruling Congress organized a vacation for all 76 candidates in two resorts in picturesque Madikeri in Kodagu district on Monday. At 4 pm, all of them, accompanied by their family members, boarded three air-conditioned buses to Madikeri soon after a luncheon meeting at KPCC office with ministers R Ramalinga Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Krishna Byre Gowda and Roshan Baig making sure that these successful candidates left for the coffee town.
They would return to Bengaluru and head to the BBMP office for mayoral poll on September 11 after an overnight stay at a local hotel. While the men among them travelled alone, the women were accompanied by their husbands and children. Seven independents, away in Kerala for a week, returned on Monday to accompany these Congress members to Madikeri.
Prior to their departure, the party office on Queen's Road was abuzz with activity with party workers escorting these members to the dining hall and then conference hall to complete some formalities before an address by KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar who stood in for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
During his speech, Dr Parameshwar explained that to the newly elected members that they would be taken to Madikeri to prevent leaders of BJP from wooing them. “Do not fall prey to poaching by BJP. You remain with the Congress and vote for our mayoral candidate whose name will be announced on the day of the election. The party has taken all steps to make your stay comfortable. Enjoy yourselves during these three days and return to Bengaluru,” he added.
Mr Ramalinga Reddy said the party would pick up the tab during the vacation of these members. Mr S T Somashekar, MLA, Mr Bhairathi Suresh, MLC, president of the state women’s cell, Mrs Laxmi Hebbalkar, and others accompanied these members on their trip to Madikeri.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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