Congress moves EC over party legislators defection in Gujarat

New Delhi: Hours after six party MLAs in Gujarat deserted the party and one of them given Rajya Sabha ticket by the BJP, a delegation of Congress leaders approached the Election Commission here today and alleged that the BJP has been using money, muscle and pressure tactics to poach its MLAs. Senior leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of the Opposition Rajya Sabha, said the saffron party leaders have tried to ‘lure’ the Congress legislators. The BJP’s gameplan is also seen as a well crafted plan to ensure defeat of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who had already filed his nomination papers for August 8 voting. Meanwhile, 44 Congress MLAs have been shifted to a resort in Congress-ruled Karnataka for preventing further erosion in their camp. The Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani mocked at Congress party for taking away legislators to Bangaluru. “Our aim is relief and rehabilitation. Gujarat Congress prefers resort and relaxation. Flood is our priority, fun theirs. People are best judges,” Mr Rupani said in a tweet. The BJP has fielded three candidates, including Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and a rebel Congress leader Balwantsinh Rajput for three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat.