A day after its decision to ally with the JD(S) in Karnataka, the Congress is busy keeping its flock together, fearing “poaching” attempts by the BJP, which is nine seats short of a majority. The Congress also questioned Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision on Thursday evening to invite BS Yeddyurappa to form the government.

Late on Thursday, the Congress shifted its MLAs to a resort in Bengaluru. Party General Secretary Ashok Gehlot told reporters after parading the alliance’s legislators at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru that the party is “compelled” to keep its MLAs together. “Hotel or wherever we go, MLAs will stay together and discuss things. Congress is compelled to keep its MLAs together because of the horse-trading going on,” he said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, accused the BJP of trying to split its newly-elected MLAs. He, however, asserted that the saffron party would fail in the endeavour. “It is the sixth State where they (BJP) are trying to break Congress MLAs, but they will not succeed,” he said.

Later, addressing reporters in Delhi, party leaders P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal questioned the Governor’s delay in inviting the JD(S)-Congress alliance to form the government.

“Congress and the JD(S) have formed a post-election alliance in Karnataka. The numbers establish that the alliance clearly has a majority. Yet the Governor has not taken a decision to invite [HD] Kumaraswamy (the leader of the alliance) to form the government. Why he is not inviting the alliance? We have given him the list of MLAs,” Chidambaram said. He alleged that the BJP is trying to manipulate the Governor’s office. “How will a party that does not have the majority manufacture a majority? How can a minority become a majority, unless you poach?” he asked.

He said the Governor should not walk a perilous path which is illegal. “He is bound by the Supreme Court order. He is bound to invite the alliance. We sincerely hope that there is no another outrage against the Constitution. We hope that the law does not change according to the foot of the chancellor,” the former finance minister said.

Sibal said BJP is getting a chance to poach MLAs. “It will be breaching constitutional provisions. If he has given an opportunity to the BJP, it will be an opportunity to poach MLAs,” Sibal said. “The Governor of Karnataka must be bound by the Constitution and the order of the Supreme Court,” he added.

The Left parties also criticised the Governor. The CPI(M) said the delay in inviting the JD(S)-Congress alliance would only mean that the Constitutional office of the Governor is being misused to buy time for naked horse trading. “This is blatantly anti-democratic,” the party said.

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