Party members tried to force their way into CM Yeddyurappa's residence to demand explanation

Cong MLAs released after brief arrest

Party members tried to force their way into CM Yeddyurappa's residence to demand explanation

Congress leaders in the state went into a frenzy last evening as one of their own gave their resignation after he was allegedly coaxed into leaving Congress.

Angry: Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah. Pic/Bindiya Thomas

After news trickled out that the BJP had managed to coax Jagalur MLA S V Ramachandra in leaving Congress, the leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah along with other senior members of the party, rushed to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's residence to demand an explanation.u00a0

The MLAs reached Yeddyurappa's house at 8 pm and were denied entry past the gate, which infuriated the leaders. The Congress legislators started shouting slogans and held impromptu speeches outside the CM's house.

KPCC Chairman R V Deshpande even went to the extent of asking his fellow party men to "amputate the hands" of those BJP leaders who were involved in making Ramachandra leave the party.

A group of 51 Congressmen tried to push their way through the gates of the CM's official residence. The police arrested all of them and took them to the City Armored Reserve (CAR) headquarters in Mysore Circle where they were immediately released.u00a0

After their release, some 40 odd members including R V Deshpande, D K Shiva Kumar and Siddaramaiah headed back to the Chancery Pavilion where they had checked in on Monday.

"We will continue our protest and oppose 'Operation Kamala'. Right now the Jagalur MLA is absconding. Once we find him, we will bring him back to the Congress," said Siddaramaiah. "We will meet Governor H R Bhardwaj tomorrow and ask him not to accept Ramachandra's resignation."

Sambar, fodder for MLAs

After spending the day protesting and throwing a fit over a lost colleague, some 40 odd Congress MLAs, including leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, headed back to the cosy confines of Chancery Pavilion where they spent the night. The lobby manager told MiD DAY that the politicians had not ordered for any special item. "They ordered simple meals such as sambar, rasam, daal fry and chicken fry.u00a0 They are well behaved. They are not making any demands or causing any problems for the other guests or for the staff."