Rajya Sabha polls: Amid fears of cross-voting, Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs leave for Bengaluru

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LoP in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly and Congress leader Umang Singhar and other party leaders gather outside the Raja Bhoj Airport, in Bhopal on June 9, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Amid fears of cross voting in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, about 48 MLAs of Madhya Pradesh Congress are waiting to board a special flight from Bhopal to Karnataka’s Bengaluru on Tuesday (June 9, 2026).

Also read | Rajya Sabha polls: Fears of cross-voting, hints from BJP leaders make Congress cautious

The aircraft is yet to take off from Bhopal airport with the Congress alleging that the Air Traffic Control (ATC) has been delaying in giving the take off permission to the chartered plane.

A Congress MLA, who is at the airport, told The Hindu, “We have been here for over four hours, but we are not allowed to take off. Now, officials are saying that they will start the boarding soon.”

Meanwhile, various Congress MLAs have alleged in the media that they are “being approached on behalf of the BJP with lucrative offers”.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar said, “Several temptations have reached Congress MLAs regarding the Rajya Sabha elections, but our Congress colleagues have returned the BJP’s ‘jhola [bag]’ back. Congress’s 62 MLAs are united with full strength, and we are confident that support will be received from more than 62. BJP should worry about its MLAs.”

More MLAs are expected to leave for Bengaluru later in the day, as per Congress insiders. Some senior leaders, including Mr. Singhar, will leave on Wednesday (June 10, 2026).

The MLAs will stay in a resort near Bengaluru for over a week and will return to Bhopal on the polling day, June 18.

Bhopal / Madhya Pradesh / Rajya Sabha / parliament / Indian National Congress