Bengaluru: After coming under critical scrutiny for flying out a section of Independents and small party MLAs to Mumbai ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls on June 11 to prevent poaching by the opposition BJP and JD(S), the Congress party is now planning to bring them back.
Sources said the media blitzkrieg against ‘resort politics’ indulged in by the Congress has rattled party leaders. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in New Delhi disclosed that central leaders had directed Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah to call off his much talked about Operation Airlift to prevent further embarrassment to the Congress.
“Mr Siddaramaiah had worked relentlessly to get the top brass to field a third candidate. Party seniors now feel they should not have given the nod for this as the CM has failed to execute his plan properly.”
The source added that Mr Siddaramaiah had convinced party leaders that ensuring the victory of the third candidate was easy for him and to prove this, he had even taken JD(S) rebel leader B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan to Delhi to prove that he still enjoys a lot of support in the Janata Dal (Secular), his former party.
“Mr Siddaramaiah had even convinced nine of the 14 independents and small party MLAs to vote for the Congress candidate. Going by his confidence, party leaders bit the bait but now they seem to be having second thoughts,” source said.
The source added that central leaders have sent a strong message to the Chief Minister asking him to halt Operation Airlift and bring back his supporters to Bengaluru.
"Mr Siddaramaiah has reportedly directed his lieutenants in Mumbai - S.T. Somashekhar, Muniratna Naidu, and Byrathy Basavaraju- to call off the operation as soon as possible,” source said.
