Odisha Congress MLAs have sought refuge in Bengaluru amid concerns of potential cross-voting in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar clarifying that he did not personally invite them. The legislators arrived in the city on Thursday night and are reportedly staying at a resort in Ramanagara.

Speaking to the media at his Bengaluru residence on Friday, Shivakumar said, “I have not invited the Odisha MLAs; they themselves have come to Bengaluru.” He added that the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president of Odisha had informed him of their visit, and arrangements were made for their comfort. “They have expressed interest in visiting Mysuru. When they said they were coming, I told them they were welcome. They asked for a comfortable place to stay, so we made arrangements for them,” he said.

Shivakumar also addressed questions about cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha polls, noting that he was following party directives. “We must do what the party asks. This happens in all states; it is nothing new. They sought time to meet me. I told them that the Assembly session is underway and asked them not to come here. I said I would finish the session and then come to meet them,” he explained.

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The Odisha MLAs arrived in Bengaluru via an IndiGo flight from Bhubaneswar on Thursday night and were received at Kempegowda International Airport by close aides of Shivakumar. They were escorted under police security to the Wonderla Resort in Bidadi, where special arrangements have been made. The delegation reportedly includes MLAs Mangu Khila, Appala Swamy, Rajan Ekka, Ashok Kumar, Odisha PCC chief and former MP Bhakta Charan Das, and spokesperson Durga Prasad Panda, totaling around 14 party leaders.

While speaking about the move, Shivakumar dismissed speculation linking it to “Operation Lotus” or political maneuvering. “I do not know about that. They said Bengaluru is safe and that they wanted to come here and spend some time. I have not met them yet. They are our colleagues, and when they said they would come, and their PCC president informed me about it, I told them they were welcome,” he said. He cited his experience in managing party affairs during sensitive Rajya Sabha elections in the past.

The relocation of the Odisha MLAs reflects a common practice in Indian politics, often referred to as “resort politics,” aimed at keeping legislators together and preventing defections or cross-voting. Congress sources emphasized that the decision was purely precautionary, made to maintain party discipline ahead of crucial votes.

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