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Journalism of Courage
The week leading up to the crucial vote of confidence on the Dharam Singh government has turned out to be an all-expenses-paid holiday for MLAs from both the Janata Dal Secular and the BJP. Seeming certain of coming power, they are, however, guarding themselves against the temptations of horsetrading, and will be spending the next few days in upscale hotels in Chennai and Goa.
Heading on Saturday to the five-star Intercontinental Resort on the Goa-Karnataka border were about 47 JDS MLAs; among them H. D. Kumaraswamy, the man who 8216;split8217; the party. While the resort is off-bounds to reporters, Kumaraswamy told reporters at Dabolim airport, 8216;8216;We have seen the behaviour of the Congress for the last 20 months and are not interested in going with them again. The Congress does not keep its word. That8217;s why I don8217;t want to continue my association with them.8217;8217;
Chief Minister Dharam Singh has no option but to resign, he said.
In Chennai, meanwhile, Friday saw the arrival of 65-odd BJP MLAs at the city centre8217;s Hotel Accord Metropolitan. While some spent Saturday relaxing at the hotel, another group took off for Mahabalipuram, courtesy their local hosts8212;the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP.
8216;8216;For some of us, this is the first visit to Chennai and, having come all the way, there8217;s naturally no question of their missing out on Mahabalipuram, especially after our Tamil Nadu colleagues said they were organising a trip,8217;8217; said one MLA.
The mood upbeat, the MLAs definitely don8217;t look as if they have cause to chafe against being under 8216;8216;safe custody8217;8217;. The only restriction imposed on them is: Don8217;t talk to the media. But, under the ever-watchful eyes of Shivaji Nagar MLA Katta Subramanya Naidu, who is shepherding the contingent in Chennai, it is unlikely that any of the flock will go astray.
8216;8216;We have no fears of their being bought over by the Congress,8217;8217; said Tamil Nadu BJP general secretary G. Kumaravelu, who has charge of hospitality arrangements for the Karnataka MLAs. 8216;8216;Our only fear8212;and our leadership had specific information about this8212;was that some of our MLAs might be abducted by a desperate Congress to prevent them from attending the assembly for the vote of confidence.8217;8217;
