Mumbai: Around 13 rebel coalition MLAs of Congress-Janata Dal (S), who were earlier residing in five star Hotel Sofitel, were shifted to Hotel Renaissance, fearing the entry of ‘troubleshooter’ of Congress (now coalition) and State Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and several other coalition leaders.
However, DKShi along with JDS leaders G T Deve Gowda, Shivalinge Gowda and several others had reached Hotel Renaissance. By the time they reached, the Maharashtra government had beefed up the security all over the hotel with Mumbai Police personnel and DCPs in place.
Even though DKShi argued with the police personnel that he had already booked a hotel room and had also had an entry pass, the police denied him entry.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party workers who had gathered near the gate of the hotel shouted slogans against DKShi, demanding him to leave the place. The hotel administration, later informed that DKShi and a few others’ hotel room bookings have been cancelled due to security reasons.
Reacting to this development, DKShi said, “I’ll not damage the hotel. I’ve just come to stay and relax here and have cup of tea with my coalition friends. We are not terrorists and I’ve no weapons with me, but have only one heart and that I’ve come to give them. Let me be clear that nothing is permanent in politics and none are friends or enemies of anybody. In any moment the game might flip around. I’ll contact them and I’m on a continuous effort of coming in contact with them. I’ll definitely speak to them”, he added.
He also said, “We have no issues with the police officers and IAS officers who are being deployed here. They are doing their duty and they’re being nice to me. We’ll do our duty, for which I request them to grant us the permission.”
Stubborn DKShi later decided to stay put outside the premises of the hotel.
DKShi, along with two to three JDS leaders had landed in the city today morning and had reached Hotel Renaissance at 8 am.
