With the Rajya Sabha elections slated for March 16, 2026, the Odisha Congress isn’t taking any risks. They’ve shifted eight of their 14 MLAs, along with their families, to a luxury resort in Bengaluru—Wonderla, located just outside the city. It’s a classic case of “resort politics.” The purpose is to shield their legislators from any last-minute poaching or “horse-trading” attempts by political opponents. The group arrived late Thursday night, with security arrangements are kept tight.
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, is overseeing operations in Bengaluru. He’s well-known for managing political maneuvers like this—it’s nothing new for him. Back in Odisha, Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das personally supervised the MLAs’ departure, ensuring everyone was aligned ahead of this crucial vote. Among the MLAs staying at the resort: C.S. Raazen Ekka, Mangu Khilla, Pabitra Saunta, Kadraka Appala Swamy, Prafulla Pradhan, Ashok Kumar Das, and Satyajeet Gomango. Altogether, the group from Odisha consists of 14 people—eight MLAs and six family members.