Bangalore’s Golden Palms Spa and Resorts, currently home to a group of Congress MLAs from Maharashtra airlifted to Karnataka to pre-empt dissident activity, had two special visitors on Sunday — beleaguered Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his Deputy, Chugan Bhujbal, who popped over to reassure the legislators camping in the resort for the last three days that the Democratic Front (DF) government back home was fine. Sources said Deshmukh soothed frayed nerves of the sequestered MLAs by debunking ‘‘exaggerated claims’’ of the Sena-BJP combine out on a mission to topple the DF government. The legislators, who were reportedly tense following conflicting reports from Mumbai about the crisis, were visibly cheerful after Deshmukh’s visit. Tight security for trust vote • Unprecedented security will be witnessed on June 13 when the trust motion of the DF government will be brought for vote before the House. Only ministers, MLAs and journalists will be allowed to enter the House. Even members of the legislative council and personal staff of ministers will not be permitted. Legislators will be required to show identity cards. Ministers and legislators will also have to leave their vehicles at the entrance. Busy entertainment schedule Shiv Sena and BJP kept their • MLAs’ in five-star surroundings with Sena men enjoying tamasha lavani on Saturday and the BJP putting up a kavi sammelan on Saturday, computer training programme on Sunday, workshop on development plan on Monday and a Marathi play on Tuesday. Rane threatens Bhujbal aide • Opposition leader Narayan Rane lost his cool when he saw Sanjay Khodke, OSD in Deputy CM Bhujbal’s office who had been following Sena-BJP leaders. On Friday, after Rane came out of Speaker Gujarathi’s office he asked Khodke why he was following them and said: ‘‘Pahun gheto (I will see you later).’’ —ENS & Agencies After lunch some of the legislators plunged into the pool, while others retired to their rooms. In the evening they enjoyed a qawwali programme. At last count there were around 101 legislators (Congress and NCP) in the resort. Speaking to mediapersons after addressing the legislators, Deshmukh categorically ruled out any change in the Chief Ministership and said he had the ‘‘magic numbers’’ to prove his majority in the Assembly on June 13. ‘‘We will seek the support of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) during the crucial voting. Some members, who had defected, are likely to lose their membership of the House,’’ Deshmukh said. ‘‘Party chief Sonia Gandhi has said there is no need to change the leadership.’’ Charging the Shiv Sena and BJP of using money and muscle power to grab power in Maharashtra, Deshmukh said the MLAs had to be shifted to Bangalore to ‘‘avoid street fighting’’. On the controversy surrounding Congress MLA Padmakar Valvi, Deshmukh said: ‘‘Valvi said he was abducted and confined in the Matosree Sports Club (in Mumbai) by the BJP and Shiv Sena and that he had been pressurised.’’ ‘‘We have sought intervention by Governor Alexander to direct the Mumbai Police to inquire whether Valvi had gone there of his own free will or under pressure. We do not accept his statement given in the club, where he has been terrorised,’’ he said. He also met Sri Sathya Sai Baba before interacting with the legislators. Asked about the meeting, he said: ‘‘I was a disciple (of baba) even before this (the crisis).’’
