Legislators Close to CM Embark Upon a ‘Private’ Tour of Australia

BENGALUR: While some Congress MLAs/MLCs said to be loyal to the Prime Minister are coming together to embark on a two-week ‘special’ tour to Australia and New Zealand, the second batch of legislators are also set to join them. But the exact number of lawmakers on the tour remains unclear. Sources said 15 legislators went to Australia and New Zealand.

Sources said that the team supporting Siddaramaiah’s continuation as Chief Minister is planning to stall the power-sharing process between their leader Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s post, by going on a tour.

One of the touring party, former minister and Chamarajanagar MLA Puttaranga Shetty, told reporters before leaving: “There is no need to seek permission from the high command to go on a private tour.” Shetty asked, “When I do not inform Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will I inform the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar?”

However, for the first time, MLA Thammaiah, representing Chikkamagaluru seat, went to Australia but stated that he took his family members with him. MLA Hampanagouda Badarli stated that 3 MLAs participated in the Australia and New Zealand tour and claimed that the ‘special’ tour of the MLAs was planned about 4 months ago.

Congress MLA HC Balakrishna, who is a supporter of DK Shivakumar, announced that he was not invited from the team going to Australia and New Zealand. “That’s a different team, ours is a different team,” he said. He clarified the separate team but not the faction.

Mandya Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda, loyal to DK Shivakumar, gave confidence that the confusion over the tour initiated by some party legislators will end in about a week. However, some legislators supporting the Prime Minister did not attach any political meaning to his trip.