Wary of attempts at poaching ahead of the Rajya Sabha byelections to two seats in Gujarat, the Congress on Wednesday shifted all its legislators to a “safe” location in north Gujarat. There is also a strong possibility of rebel Congress MLA and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and some of his supporting legislators to cross-vote in the Rajya Sabha polling. The Congress MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition, Paresh Dhanani boarded a private bus to travel towards Ambaji. According to Congress leaders, all but rebel Congress MLAs were travelling together. Bypolls were necessitated in Gujarat after Home Minister Amit Shah and WCD Minister Smriti Irani resigned as Rajya Sabha members following their win in Lok Sabha elections from Gandhinagar and Amethi respectively.

Source: The Hindu July 03, 2019 15:00 UTC