Congress activists led by party’s district president (Rural) B.V. Shivayogi staged a demonstration at Rotary Circle in Hosapete on Friday protesting against Vijayanagar Congress MLA Anand Singh who was believed to have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp.
Terming Mr. Singh a ‘traitor,’ they said the Congress would ensure his defeat in the by-election if he resigns from his membership to re-contest on a BJP ticket in Vijayanagara.
The activists also raised slogans against BJP national president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “indulging in horse-trading” for proving majority in the Karnataka Assembly.
“BJP is playing dirty politics. Governor Vajubhai Vala, who is acting at the behest of BJP national leadership, has unconstitutionally allowed the BJP to form the government despite the party not having the required number of members. Backed by Mr. Amit Shah and Mr. Narendra Modi, the BJP is indulging in horse trading. It is a murder of democracy,” Mr. Shivayogi said during the agitation.
The agitating activists later submitted a memorandum to the local police demanding them to find the “missing” MLA.
The scheduled protest against another “missing” MLA, Pratapgouda Patil, who was elected from Maski constituency in Raichur district, was postponed after local party leaders assured the activists that they would persuade Mr. Patil and bring him back to the Congress fold.
“His [Mr. Patil’s] son has said that he would bring his father back to the Congress fold. We are hopeful that Mr. Patil would come back and vote against the motion of confidence on Saturday,” N.S. Boseraju, a party leader and MLC, told The Hindu over the phone. He was with the Congress MLAs in a Hyderabad resort.
