The Congress — which is dealing with a sort of an internal rebellion, with two of its legislators defying the party whip — faces a daunting task of chalking out strategies to keep its flock together.
Under pressure for keeping its legislators in a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru since Friday, the Congress is expected to let legislators walk free on Monday even as the party remains anxious about moves of some of its disgruntled MLAs.
Public opinion is also building against the ‘resort politics’ as most taluks in the State have been declared drought-hit. The Congress’s moved its legislators to the resort days after the BJP took its legislators to a hotel near Delhi.
While Ministers are likely to be tasked with being in constant touch with the disgruntled and “vulnerable” legislators numbering around half a dozen, senior leaders have held talks with such MLAs and tried to impress upon them the importance of staying in the party and retaining their public image by doing good work. “They have also been promised of funds for development of their constituencies, which, in turn, will help them build an image for themselves. They have also been promised of ministerial berths in rotation,” Congress sources said.
The party, according to sources, is confident of not losing any original Congressmen, and the former Minister Ramesh Jharkiholi and Chincholi legislator Umesh Jadhav, who have so far defied party leadership, remaining in the party. “The Congress could keep a watch on the legislators who came to party fold in the recent times from other parties.”
However, sources said what has been a fear among the leaders is the constant pressure from BJP leaders on these vulnerable legislators to switch sides. “If it is done once, one can let it go. In the current case, they are being pressurised by businessmen and politicians from neighbouring States where many have business interests directly or in partnership. This constant pressure is a big worry,” sources said.
Counter-strategy
Meanwhile, the Congress, in a counter-strategy, is also keeping its channels open with some BJP first-time legislators, who crossed over to the saffron party before the Assembly elections. “In case the BJP succeeds in poaching our legislators, the Congress may also resort to the same tactics. However, since the Janata Dal (Secular)–Congress coalition is in power, the party does not want to initiate any poaching move, which otherwise would be construed as misuse of power.”
While Congress sources claimed to be in touch with BJP legislators, they also said the party feels it is important to keep its flock together and not lose anyone. “The leadership believes that the party has to hold on to its partymen first before venturing out to scout for possible new faces.”
The party is also hoping to use intelligence gathering to track the movement of the legislators to get a sense of the happenings on the ground, sources said.
