Bengaluru, (DHNS): From the verdant Chamundi Hills near Mysuru to the high-rises of Bengaluru’s tech parks --the Congress is drawing up a tour itinerary for its 44 MLAs from Gujarat and, the party is in no mood to keep them holed up in a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The party has a wishlist from the MLAs, who are expected to remain in Karnataka till August 6.
“Some want to visit Chamundi Hills and some want to see the Gomateshwara statue in Shravanabelagola. Some have asked to be taken to Electronics City and Whitefield’s International Tech Park,” Energy Minister D K Shivakumar told DH.

Back from Singapore, Shivakumar on Sunday took over the responsibility of supervising the stay of the Gujarat MLAs from his brother, Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh. Shivakumar cut short his Singapore tour and returned to Bengaluru on Sunday.

“We are making arrangements based on wherever they want to go. In any case, it’s up to them. We’re okay even if they want to stay put in the resort,” the minister said.

The tour plan, however, is yet to receive a nod from the party high command. There is a concern that it might prove difficult to bring the MLAs back together if they are sent on long sojourns.

The resort where the MLAs are lodged is in Bidadi in Ramanagaram district, of which Shivakumar is the incharge minister. He is in touch with the high command and updating it on the developments at the resort. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is said to be monitoring the developments.

For the Gujarat MLAs, Karnataka was the obvious escapade given that it is the only major state in the country where the Congress in power. “It’s our job to make them feel welcome. They come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. They feel a sense of pride to be a part of the Congress party,” Shivakumar said, reiterating that the MLAs were not restricted in any manner.

“They are not dumb... they are not children. Some of them had switched off their phones perhaps to avoid harassment. They’re all united,” he added.

There is a plan to shift the MLAs to another resort in Madikeri. For now, however, the MLAs will remain in the Bidadi resort.