With the budget session not far away, Karnataka ruling Congress MLAs are flying abroad on a holiday. At least 20 Congress MLAs, along with their families, are visiting Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and other places, assuring that they will return by March 2 or 3, even as the budget session starts from March 5.
Congress MLAs fly abroad for holiday (Image Source: Internet)
Bengaluru: More than 20 Congress MLAs in Karnataka left for a foreign tour ahead of the state budget session starting from March 5, even as a power tussle continues within the ruling party. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present a record 17th budget on March 6, soon after the legislative session begins. The session will continue until March 27.
It is learnt that the MLAs travelling abroad are considered loyal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. According to Congress sources, 10 MLAs flew out on Wednesday and Thursday along with their families, while other MLAs are leaving in batches to their destinations today and tomorrow.
It is learnt that among others who left include MLAs Puttaranga Shetty, B Devendrappa, B M Nagaraj, H D Thammaiah, Hampana Gowda, etc.
Among other places, the MLAs are touring Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and others, with more than 20 MLAs travelling abroad.
With more than 20 MLAs out of India, concern is being raised among the 135 Congress MLAs in the 224-member House as the budget session draws near. The dissident group led by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar may take advantage of this situation.
However, the MLAs have said that they will be back by March 2 or 3 to be present for the budget session. Those who left, belonging to the Chief Minister’s camp, have said that Siddaramaiah is not aware of their trip and questioned why he is being unnecessarily dragged into the issue.
