Karnataka Crisis: More Cong MLAs return home ahead of party's crucial legislature meet today

In a notice issued to Congress MLAs, CLP leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah warned that absence of MLAs at Friday's meeting would be viewed "seriously".

HD Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: The Congress party will be holding a crucial legislature party meeting in Bengaluru on Friday as a show of its strength amid the ongoing political crisis where the ruling JD-Cong coilation and BJP are engaged in a poaching battle, played out by both sides. Friday's CLP meet is expected to be show of strength for the Congress, in a counter to BJP's alleged toppling bid which the ruling coalition has said has turned out to be a "flop". In a notice issued to Congress MLAs, CLP leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah warned that absence of MLAs at Friday's meeting would be viewed "seriously". "I would like to bring to your notice that your absence will be viewed seriously and it will be considered that you have voluntarily decided to leave the primary membership of the Indian National Congress," he said and added that action would be initiated under the Anti-Defection Law . Speaking to reporters at Hubballi, Siddaramaiah claimed that all the party MLAs would attend the CLP meeting. Asked if disgruntled MLAs coming back into the party fold would be made ministers, Siddaramaiah said, "We have not told anyone that we will make them minister or any other thing. There is no disgruntlement in the Congress." He also hit out at the BJP and alleged that the party has failed to work as opposition in the state. BJP has no right to talk about Congress. BJP has failed to work as opposition in the state. it is doing anti-democracy rather than working as opposition.” Meanwhile, in a breather to the Congress on Thursday, more MLAs who had allegedly gone incommunicado and were on the poaching list of BJP, surfaced. Yellapur MLA Shivram Hebbar who met KPCC chief Dinesh Gunduu Rao said he had gone to Andaman and Nicobar Islands with family, as per the plan made about a month ago.