Bhubaneswar, 13 March (H.S.): Political activity has intensified in Odisha ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, with differing statements emerging within the Indian National Congress regarding the visit of party MLAs to Bengaluru.

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party Ram Chandra Kadam said that nine party MLAs have travelled to Bengaluru to meet senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kadam alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to lure Congress legislators and that discussions about possible “horse trading” are circulating in political circles. However, he asserted that the party’s MLAs are safe and will not engage in cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha polls. He also expressed confidence that the remaining five Congress MLAs who are in the state will vote according to the party line.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sofia Firdous expressed displeasure over the visit. She said she came to know about the MLAs’ trip through media reports and questioned the need for legislators to leave the state.

Firdous added that she is an elected representative from Cuttack and had not been informed about the trip beforehand.

Another Congress MLA, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, described the visit as a personal trip. He said the nine MLAs had travelled on their own and are expected to return within two days.

Bahinipati clarified that there is no political motive behind the visit and expressed confidence that Congress MLAs will not be involved in any form of horse trading.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda