Another K'taka MLA arrives in Mumbai, Kharge sees BJP hand

As the political drama in Karnataka continues, yet another Congress MLA from the southern state arrived here Thursday and got admitted to a hospital after complaining of chest pain, sources said.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that it was the BJP which brought the MLA, Shreemant Patil, here in its attempt to topple the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka.

Police were not allowing anyone to meet Patil, Kharge alleged.

According to sources, 15 rebel MLAs from the Congress and JD (S) are already camping at a city hotel.

"The MLA (Patil) came here Thursday. He was admitted to a private hospital here initially, but was taken to (government-run) St George hospital later," sources added.

Congress general secretary Kharge, who hails from Karnataka, mentioned Patil's arrival here during a party event.

He accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah in ensuring that the Karnataka government collapsed.

Kharge also accused the BJP of facilitating the stay of other rebel MLAs -- he put their number at 12 - at the hotel here.

Addressing a meeting of Congress workers here following appointment of Balasaheb Thorat as Maharashtra unit chief, Kharge said Patil was with him Wednesday night.

"The MLA has come here, complaining of pain in the heart. There are many heart specialists in Karnataka, where free treatment is possible. Karnataka has a hospital which is the best after AIIMS (in Delhi). But he (Patil) has come to a Mumbai hospital here ignoring that Karnataka hospital.

"Who has brought him here? These things show Modi sahab, Shah sahab trying to bring dictatorship here replacing democracy and Fadnavis sahab is helping them," Kharge alleged.

He said the BJP was "frustrated" as it fell short of forming the government in Karnataka after Assembly polls in 2018.

"Now since Modi-ji has retained power, they are again trying to bring the Karnataka government down. Therefore, they have brought the MLAs here," he alleged.

The BJP-led central government was using "every tool possible" to trigger collapse of the Kumaraswamy government, he said.

The senior Congress leader also alleged that Maharashtra police was not allowing anyone to meet Patil at the St George hospital.

The Karnataka assembly Thursday took up the confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy to decide the fate of the Congress-JDS government. The assembly was, however, subsequently adjourned till Friday.