Karnataka tussle: Congress, JD(S) MLAs moved to Hyderabad in overnight bus journey

Karnataka political drama has taken a new turn again. In an effort to fight 'poaching attempts', Congress, JD(S) MLAs in Bengaluru were moved out in buses to Hyderabad in an overnight journey, reports NDTV. Earlier, both Congress and JD(S) had planned to fly the lawmakers out of Karnataka but this plan was dropped when permission was reportedly not granted.

Midnight action continued till the wee hours of Friday as Congress MLAs lodged at Eagleton resort and JD(S) MLAs in Shangri-La hotel in Bengaluru made their way to Hyderabad. 

JD(S) Chief HD Deve Gowda visited Tirupati temple in the night.

HD Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister and JD(S) chief, visited Tirupati temple last night #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/zUGgQCnVbb

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2018

Earlier, media reports suggested that MLAs will be moved to Kerala, but then the strategy was changed, and the confusion still persists. 

I'm definite they (Karnataka JD(S) MLAs) aren't coming by flight so I'm moving to Kurnool. Not sure about destination if they come here, they're welcome. I was expecting them y'day but Civil Aviation Dept didn't give permission to charter flight: MT Thomas, Kerala JD(S) MLA & Min pic.twitter.com/nrPBv48nHs

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2018

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday said his party MLAs along with the Congress will stay united at the same place in order to prevent horse-trading ahead of the trust vote in the assembly.

"There is no question of fear, but we have to take some cautions because of previous experiences. We wanted to take special care to represent their (Congress and JD(S) MLAs) living. We are not encouraging horse-trading. To stop it, they are living together," Kumaraswamy told the media.

Accusing the BJP of "misusing its power", Kumaraswamy said that several MLAs have been contacted by the BJP.

Congress and JD(s) leaders have accused that they were forced to take the long bus ride because permission for the chartered aircraft was not granted to them. 

Amid the high political drama, the Supreme Court today will resume hearing on Congress and JD(S) plea regarding Karnataka Governor's decision to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a government in their state.

The apex court will also hear senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani's petition to have an urgent hearing on the same.

While the elections in Karnataka witnessed a lot of two-and-fro allegations filled with jibes between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the real twist came in after the results threw a hung Assembly with BJP emerging as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress (78) and the JD-(S), which won 37 seats.