Congress plans to shift Himachal MLAs to Rajasthan fearing 'Operation Lotus'

The Congress is drawing up a plan to shift Himachal Pradesh MLAs to Rajasthan to pre-empt poaching attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party, according to sources.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda have been tasked with shifting MLAs to prevent 'Operation Lotus,' sources said.

The MLAs are likely to be shifted in buses to Rajasthan. AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is personally looking into the situation and is also expected to arrive in Shimla today, sources added.

The state of Himachal Pradesh is set to reveal today if its voters have defied the anti-incumbency trend and re-elected the ruling party, some thing that has not happened since 1985. Going by Himachal Pradesh’s "tradition", it should be the Congress' turn to form the government this time around.

Out of 55 lakh voters in Himachal, more than 75 per cent voted in the November 12 election to elect its 68-member assembly and government. A total of 412 candidates are in the fray in this election.

The grand old party has been optimistic of its win, saying the voters will decide on the fundamental issues of price rise, joblessness, the old pension scheme, and other challenges of life and livelihood the state residents have been facing.

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