MP showdown: Now Congress, BJP scramble to safeguard MLAs

Bhopal, March 10 (IANS) The Congress and the BJP have have decided to guard their flock ahead of the crucial coming test of strength in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP organised four luxury coaches to take their MLAs to Delhi by a special flight late on Tuesday night. They will all be taken to another undisclosed destination from Delhi, said the party insiders. The BJP MLAs said they did not know where they were being taken and could not care less. Most of them sang songs in the coaches. According to sources, the BJP withheld its decision to hand the legislature party reins as it would like to ascertain every member's view before taking a call on the leadership. The decision was apparently prompted by slogans raised outside the venue of the legislature party meet. Many members shouted slogans to demand Narottam Mishra as head of the legislature party and thus as prospective Chief Minister. The Congress also took steps to to protect their MLAs but did not plan to fly them out of town. The Congress is expecting the Speaker to verify with every resigning legislator where he did it voluntarily or not. Only one of the 22 MLA who has resigned has joined the BJP so far. In a late evening talk with media, belaguered Chief Minister Kamal Nath said his party was sure most of the resignations were taken under pressure or fake promises.
--IANS naidu/vd