Karnataka Deputy CM Denies Summoning Odisha Congress Legislators Ahead of Rajya Sabha Elections
Karnataka Deputy CM Addresses Odisha Congress Legislators' Visit
On Friday, D.K. Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, refuted claims that he had summoned Odisha Congress legislators to Bengaluru ahead of the biennial Rajya Sabha elections. However, he acknowledged that he would meet them later. Eight Odisha Congress MLAs, including Chief Whip C.S. Rajen Ekka, have arrived in Bengaluru and are currently staying at a private resort. While he dismissed rumors of cross-voting and Operation Kamal, Shivakumar noted that resort politics is not new to him.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar clarified, "I did not call the Odisha legislators; they have come to Bengaluru on their own. I will meet them after the session concludes." He added, "I am unsure why they are here. Our PCC president from Odisha contacted our legislators to come. I told them it would be a party matter, so I will meet them personally. They expressed interest in visiting Mysuru. When they informed me of their arrival, I welcomed them. They requested comfortable accommodation, which we arranged."
When asked if the party had tasked him with preventing cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, he responded, "We must operate according to party directives. This occurs in all states; it’s not a new phenomenon." He mentioned that the legislators had requested a meeting, but he advised them to wait until the session was over. Shivakumar further stated, "I have no information regarding Operation Kamal. Bengaluru is safe, so they should observe here. I have not met them yet."
He continued, "They are our allies. When they expressed their intention to come, and the PCC president inquired about it, I said they should come. It is our duty to take care of them. I have been doing this since the Vilasrao Deshmukh government. I have handled similar situations multiple times, including during Ahmed Patel's Rajya Sabha elections and the Madhya Pradesh elections." On Thursday night, six Odisha Congress MLAs arrived in Bengaluru, with two more joining them shortly after.