Number games are back in Karnataka after the elections results were announced yesterday. As the JD(S) and Congress hurried into the last moment alliance to stake a claim at forming the government, the odious task of protecting their MLAs from ‘poaching’ now looms over both the parties.
DK Shivakumar, the Energy Minister of the incumbent government and one of the richest Congress leaders has hinted at the old ‘Resort’ game.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/996596658447187970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
DK Shivakumar happens to be the perfect man for ‘safeguarding’ the Congress MLAs because he has done it before. In July 2017, DK Shivakumar hosted 42 Gujrat MLAs at the Eagleton Golf Resort in the outskirts of Bengaluru. For several days the pictures of the luxurious lawns and elaborate buffets that were circulated in the media had done enough endorsement for the resort. Turns out, not only DK Shivakumar, even the resort itself has a history of housing and ‘safeguarding’ vulnerable MLAs.
According to reports, in 2006-07, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy had kept some of his party’s MLAs at the same resort too, to prevent their switching over to BJP from the then Congress-JD(S) coalition.
Congress’ relationship with resorts goes back a long way. During the Gujrat Rajya Sabha polls. Congress leader Digvijay Singh requested rebelling Congress MLA Shankarsingh Vaghela to remember the old times from 1995 when he had personally hosted him and other MLAs when they were rebelling against the BJP government in the state.
Looking at the scenarios of no party hitting the magic majority number, resorts around the region have started upping their sales pitch. Yesterday Kerala Tourism had tweeted the Karnataka MLAs to ‘come out and play’ at any of their resorts. Though they later deleted the tweet.
Now, as Congress both Congress and JD(S) are busy protecting their MLAs from falling into BJP’s hands, the Eagleton Golf Resort is back in business. Journalist Shiv Aroor has informed that the resort is waiting for its new precious guests.
https://twitter.com/ShivAroor/status/996604684461801472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Whether the resort manages to hold its guests successfully till a new government is formed in the state remains to be seen.