BJP chastises Cong. for shifting its 38 MLAs out of Gujarat

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday came down heavily upon the Congress over its decision to shift 38 MLAs out of Gujarat and questioned their motive of bearing the expenses while the people in the state are reeling under floods.

"Today, when people are surrounded by floods due to a natural calamity, the Congress has switched off all MLAs phone so that no one can contact them. They have been taken to Bengaluru, given all facilities, and on the other hand, the people are in distress," BJP's Gujarat in-charge Bhupendra Yadav told ANI.

In the backdrop of Gujarat Congress MLAs quitting and joining the BJP, as many as 44 of the grand old party MLAs left for Bengaluru late last night to ensure they don't succumb to police and political pressure to join the saffron party.

Speaking to the reporters, Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar said, "To ensure that BJP is not successful in its mission, 44 of us Congress MLAs are leaving from Gujarat for Bengaluru. To hide their failure, the saffron party is trying to make sure our MLAs resign by offering money and through police pressure."

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had accused the BJP in the state of horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for August 8.

Following this, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad laughed off the accusation and said the Congress has become a sinking ship and is not able to hold their own house together.

The developments came after at least six Congress MLAs in Gujarat resigned from the party to join the BJP.