EC directs inquiry into Congress allegations of horse trading in Gujarat

At least 40 MLAs of the Gujarat Congress are currently put up at a resort in Bengaluru

The Election Commission of India today ordered the Gujarat chief secretary to conduct a probe into allegations raised by Congress that the BJP was luring its MLAs in Gujarat using "money, muscle and state power.

A delegation of the Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Manish Tewari, today met Election Commission officials and submitted a memorandum, alleging that the BJP-led Gujarat government was arm-twisting its legislators.

The Congress has seen its strength



in the Gujarat Assembly dip to 51 after six party MLAs resigned as legislators. Three of the six even went on to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a related development, the EC directed the Gujarat government to ensure that all MLAs and their families are given proper security.

Meanwhile, at least 40 Gujarat Congress MLAs remain sequestered at a Bengaluru resort after the Grand Old Party flew them out of their home state in order to prevent the BJP's attempts to 'poach' them. Another four MLAs are expected to join them, an unnamed senior party leader was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.