Rajya Sabha Polls: Congress Flies MP MLAs to Karnataka

The party arranged chartered flights to transport its legislators from Madhya Pradesh to Congress-ruled Karnataka in two batches on Tuesday. The move comes as the BJP attempts to secure a third Rajya Sabha seat in the state.

Congress Moves MLAs Amid Poaching Fears

Several Congress MLAs gathered at the residence of Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar before departing for Karnataka. The first flight was scheduled for the afternoon, while the second was planned for later in the evening.

Speaking to the media, Umang Singhar said the trip was voluntary and that no legislator was being forced to leave the state.

"We trust all our MLAs, but we must remain alert against BJP's poaching politics. Anyone who wishes to stay back can do so," he said.

According to party leaders, the MLAs are expected to stay in Bengaluru for around 10 days and will return to Bhopal on June 18, the day of voting.

Congress Alleges Pressure Tactics

Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria accused the BJP of trying to influence opposition lawmakers through money and pressure.

He alleged that attempts were being made to weaken the opposition before the Rajya Sabha elections, but asserted that Congress leaders would remain united.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders dismissed the allegations. BJP spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai claimed that Congress was moving its MLAs because it lacked confidence in its own legislators and candidates.

Tough Contest for the Third Rajya Sabha Seat

The BJP has fielded three candidates, including Mukesh Kevat, while Congress has nominated senior leader Meenakshi Natarajan.

Political observers believe the contest for the third Rajya Sabha seat could become interesting, as the BJP requires additional support beyond its existing numbers to secure victory.

A candidate needs 58 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

The BJP currently has 164 MLAs and support from an independent legislator, putting it in a strong position to win two seats comfortably.

Congress, on the other hand, has 61 MLAs and support from Bharatiya Adivasi Party MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar.

Rajya Sabha Elections Crucial for NDA

The June 18 Rajya Sabha elections will be held for 24 seats across 10 states. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is aiming to strengthen its numbers in the Upper House and move closer to the two-thirds majority mark.

The elections are being closely watched as they could significantly impact the political balance in the Rajya Sabha in the coming years.