Gujarat MLAs waiting for Congress High Command clearance to step out of Karnataka resort

The wish of 44 MLAs' from Gujarat (Congress) to visit pilgrimage centres, tourist spots and IT hubs in the city has been put on hold.

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar along with Gujarat Congress MLAs at the Eagleton Resort near Bengaluru on Sunday I Express Photo Service

BENGALURU: Confined within the precincts of a luxury resort in the outskirts of Bengaluru, the wish of 44 Congress MLAs' from Gujarat to visit pilgrimage centres, tourist spots and IT hubs in the city has been put on hold.

With the BJP allegedly intensifying the efforts to lure them, the Congress High Command has tightened the security for these MLAs and has asked party's Karnataka leaders not to take them out till further orders.

Energy minister DK Shivakumar, who is overseeing their stay and safety, visited the resort on Monday morning and held discussions with the MLAs. “The MLAs have expressed their desire to visit various pilgrim centres and tourist spots in and around the city. Some of them have even requested for a visit to IT behemoth Infosys campus. But we are awaiting instructions from our party national leaders in this regard. We will not take them out without clearance from our national leaders,” Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar also added that letting the MLAs travel on their own to these places might pose security problems. “Hence, we will take them all in one group to any one common destination, if the request is approved by our national leaders," Shivakumar said.