Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 19: Congress and JD(S) legislators, who were flown to Hyderabad to escape from BJP's attempts to woo them to their side on the night of Thursday, returned on Friday night as they have to take part in the proceedings at the state assembly on Saturday May 19.

Initially the Congress legislators were taken to Taj Hyatt hotel at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Later they were shifted to Hotel Taj Krishna taking into account security issues. JD(S) MLAs were housed in Novatel.

The Congress convened legislature party meeting at Hyderabad under instructions from national president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, and elected Siddaramaiah as the leader of the legislature party, it is gathered. Addressing the MLAs on this occasion, Siddaramaiah asked his party legislators to vote against BJP during the test of strength in the assembly and asked them not to waste their political future for a day's glory.

"Everyone can grow only in Congress party. Everyone is aware how BJP treated people from other parties who supported it in 2008. I know several of you have received phone calls. This is the time for you to show your gratitude towards the party. Everyone needs to stand by the party at a time when it is facing crisis at the national level," he noted.

It is learnt that the legislators returned to the city by four buses.