NDA partner in Kerala claims several Cong MPs/MLAs in touch with BJP; Cong rubbishes it
Kottayam/Kochi, Jul 21: Senior Kerala MLA and NDA partner P C George Sunday claimed six Congress MPs and three legislators from the state had held talks with the BJP central leadership and that there would be defections.
Congress rejected the claim by the Poonjar MLA and called him a big mouth, saying he makes such statements to get media attention.
George, whose Kerala Janapaksham Secular party recently joined the BJP-led NDA in the state, made the claim at a time when the Congress had been hit by desertions of its MLAs in Karnataka and Goa.
I have come to know that six Congress MPs and three Congress MLAs in the state have held talks with the central leadership of the BJP, George told reporters in Kottayam after his party's state committee meeting.
He declined to divulge any further details.
Later, when contacted by the PTI, the senior MLA said he could not divulge more details about the talks but claimed there would be "a flow" from the Congress to the BJP in Kerala.
George said his claim would be proved right soon.
He was formerly with the Kerala Congress (Mani) but broke away ahead of the 2016 assembly polls after differences with the leadership and won the Poonjar seat as an independent.
Later, he formed the Kerala Janapaksham Secular party.
Dismissing his claims, KPCC Vice President V D Satheesan said no one takes George seriously as he is a big mouth.
George is known for making such allegations to get media attention," he added.
Not a single Congress leader from Kerala would join the BJP, Satheesan, MLA, told PTI.
He alleged George was making such claims as the Congress had prevented his move to enter the UDF fold.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
One tourist dies, two rescued at Malpe beach
Mangaluru (PTI): A tourist died and two others were rescued at Malpe Vadabandeshwara beach when they were bathing in the sea on Thursday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Girish (26), a resident of Belur. Two persons who were rescued by lifeguards were identified as Ananth Gowda (42) and Santhosh (27), both from Belur Town, they said.
According to police, a group of tourists from Belur in Hassan district had come to Malpe beach. Girish, Santhosh and Ananth Gowda entered the waters to bathe and within minutes, all the three were caught in a strong current and washed away.
Lifeguards launched their speedboats and jet-ski vehicles and rescued Ananth Gowda and Santhosh.
Sources in the lifeguard group said when they picked up Girish, he was already lifeless due to water intake. He was taken to Kasturba Hospital where he was declared dead by hospital authorities.
Malpe police have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating.
