'BJP's Somashekhar Reddy is with two missing Congress MLAs'

Two MLAs held captive by BJP at a hotel in Bengaluru, says Congress

[File] Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh [left] with Siddaramaiah | Bhanu Prakash Chandra [File] Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh [left] with Siddaramaiah | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

With just hours left for the decider on Saturday, mystery deepens around the two 'missing' Congress MLAs. BJP MLA G. Somashekhar Reddy is with the two 'missing' Congress MLAs— Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda, news agency ANI reported citing sources. The two MLAs are yet to reach Vidhana Soudha where confidence vote proceedings are underway.

The Congress has alleged that the two MLAs have been held captive at Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru. Security has been beefed up outside Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru where reportedly the two 'missing' Congress MLAs are holed up. 

Almost all elected legislators, including Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, have arrived at Vidhana Soudha, the Karnataka state legislative assembly, where the oath-taking ceremony of the MLAs is taking place. 

On Saturday morning, pro-tem Speaker K.G. Bopaiah was seen personally overseeing the arrangements at Vidhana Soudha.  

Earlier in the day, the Congress said that its missing MLA Anand Singh is in constant touch with its leaders. "Physically he is not with us but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us. He is with us. He will come back," Karnataka senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy expressed confidence. 

Meanwhile, both the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) alliance are confident of proving majority during the floor test that will begin at 4 pm. The Congress leaders said that the numbers are stacked against the BJP in the state assembly. "Numbers are against BJP. Numbers are in favor of us. MLAs are in our favour. We will form the government," said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also echoed similar confidence ahead of the Karnataka floor test. "BJP doesn't have the numbers, we will win the floor test. BJP is just trying to prove their majority and they will fail to do so," he said. 

JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy reassured that all his party's MLAs are together, despite repeated attempts from the BJP to "hijack" and poach them. "For me, today is not an important day, the important days will come in future. Up to 4 pm, the BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together, no one is going to go to the other side. None of our MLAs are trapped. Me and Siddaramaiah will go together," said Kumaraswamy on Saturday. 

On the other hand, a confident Yeddyurappa was certain that he would take all policy decisions starting tomorrow (Sunday). "100 per cent (sure that) I am going to have absolute majority. Tomorrow, I am going to take all that decision which I promised to the people of Karnataka," said Yeddyurappa, who was sworn-in as the chief minister on Thursday.

The BJP was sure that the people will reject the unholy alliance between the Congress and the BJP. "Wait till 4.30 pm. We will win and B.S. YeddyUrappa will be the CM for five years," said BJP MP Sadananda Gowda. "Both Congress and JD(S) have an unholy alliance. They are going to be rejected, people are going to reject them," said Union Minister Ananth Kumar on Saturday. 

(With inputs from ANI)