Congress has relocated around eight Odisha MLAs to a Bengaluru resort on March 12, 2026, as a safeguard against poaching and cross-voting ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections.
Resort Politics Returns
The legislators, including chief whip CS Raazen Ekka, Ashok Kumar Das, and Prafulla Chandra Pradhan, flew in late Thursday and are staying at a South Bengaluru amusement park facility under Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s oversight. Four more MLAs are expected by Saturday, aiming to secure party unity with Congress holding just 14 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly.
High-Stakes Contest
BJP’s surprise second candidate has intensified maneuvering for the four seats, pitting BJD-Congress alliances against NDA bids. Congress needs external support for its nominee, prompting fears of inducements amid Odisha’s tight political math.
Strategic Coordination
Senior Karnataka Congress leaders coordinated logistics, reviving “resort politics” tactics seen in past polls to prevent defections until voting concludes on Monday.
