Last group of RLD MLAs join holiday

Perhaps envious of the all-expenses paid, five-star holiday their colleagues are enjoying for their unstinted loyalty to their leader Ajit S...

Perhaps envious of the all-expenses paid, five-star holiday their colleagues are enjoying for their unstinted loyalty to their leader Ajit Singh, the last group of Rashtriya Lok Dal MLAs has finally thrown in their support and has landed in the cool climes of Srinagar, their latest hideout.

Four RLD MLAs arrived in Srinagar today to join nine of their colleagues who came yesterday. Pratap Choudhury, Virendra Singh, Ranveer Singh and Kuka Bhai Hamid joined the rest in a five-star hotel overlooking the Dal Lake. Their itinerary in the Valley is a treat for their senses — a visit to the world-famous Mughal Garden, rest and recreation at the Pahalgam Health Spa, and a visit to the Gulmarg ski resort, say sources.

Hundreds of miles away from the scorching heat of Uttar Pradesh, politics seems to be far from the minds of these MLAs.

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‘‘We are here to enjoy the beauty of the Valley. I am here after 16 years and it still looks wonderful,’’ says Nawab Kokab Hameed, RLD Legislature Party leader in the UP Assembly.

‘‘It’s very hot there. And, since the Assembly is not in session, we thought we could use the time to enjoy the lovely weather of Kashmir,’’ he adds, relaxing on a lounge chair in the neatly trimmed garden of the Hotel Grand Palace on the banks of the Dal Lake.

Wading into the cold water flowing down the Nishat Garden, a popular picnic spot, Ranvir Rana says: ‘‘Who wants to talk about politics now. It’s so cool here. I had only heard about Kashmir and its beauty. Today, I am convinced it’s the best place in the world.’’

Ask them who will bear the expenses of their stay in the Valley and pat comes the reply: ‘‘Our party will bear the expenses. And we will all pool in money’’.

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For these MLAs, life has been a luxury ride in the last 10 days — soaking in pools in a star hotel in Bhopal, then enjoying the cool breeze in the hill town in Pachmarhi and now, the crisp air of the Himalayan winds in Srinagar. All this to resist any temptation the BSP-BJP coalition may hold out to prevent its government in Lucknow from being overthrown by a unified Opposition.

The RLD team is being headed by party rebel Samar Pal Singh, who was suspended months ago by Ajit Singh for his anti-party outbursts, putting to rest speculations that he was in the forefront of a movement to split the party in Chief Minister Mayawati’s favour.

The RLD MLAs came together almost instantly after Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s veiled assurance that she was not opposed to supporting the Samajwadi Party and other Opposition groups in countering the Mayawati-led BSP-BJP government in Lucknow.

In fact, the group of RLD MLAs arrived immediately after the Congress’ two-day Chief Ministers’ conclave ended in Srinagar.

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