Digvijay detained by police in B’luru

Commission alleging an attempt by Mr Singh to influence the 16 MLAs ahead of the March 26 biennial Rajya Sabha elections in the state.

Interestingly, governor Lalji Tandon on Wednesday snubbed Assembly Speaker N.P. Prajapati for seeking his intervention in securing the release of the 16 rebel Congress MLAs, reminding him that it was the job of the executive (to free the legislators).

“You are knocking at the wrong door”, Mr Tandon said, while replying to the Speaker’s communication to him. Congress workers held demonstration at the BJP’s state headquarters here and at the residences of some of the rebel Congress MLAs, accusing them of trying to destabilise the Kamal Nath government.

In a major twist to Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs’ stay in Bengaluru resort, former MP Chief Minister Digvijay Singh approached Karnataka High Court, seeking a direction for permission to meet the MLAs.

The writ petition filed in the Karnataka High Court contended that Singh was candidate for forthcoming elections to Rajya Sabha and it was his right to seek votes from the voters.

Senior Counsel A.S. Ponnanna contended that the police were obstructing meeting of Singh with his own voters. Since the election was fast approaching, he sought emergency hearing of the case and requested the bench to give suitable direction to the police.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, high had prevailed in near Ramada Resort, Yelahanka, when Singh, along with other Congress leaders were detained by police, while trying to barge into the resort.

Singh was accompanied by Madhya Pradesh minister Jitu Patwari and other Congress leaders.