Kerala Minister Invites K'taka Cong, JD MLAs to 'God's Own Country' to Avoid Poaching

Thiruvananathapuram, May 17 (PTI) Kerala Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran tonight invited Congress and JD(S) MLAs from Karnataka to "God's Own Country" to avoid "horse-traders", amid speculation that the newly-elected lawmakers may travel to Kochi to prevent any poaching bid.

The invitation followed unconfirmed media reports that the Congress and JD(S) MLAs were being moved to Kerala by bus after being denied permission by aviation regulator DGCA to use charter planes from an airport near Bangalore.

However, a Civil Aviation Ministry official said any DGCA permission is not required for charter operations within India.

"Heard news frm diff sources that the elected representatives of K'taka are travelling to #Kerala. As the tourism minister of the state, we are happy to welcome them & aid them, there won't be any trouble of horse traders here! (sic)," Surendran tweeted from his unverified Twitter handle soon after reports surfaced about a possible Kerala shift of the MLAs.

Earlier on May 15 also the Kerala government had made an amazing offer to the newly-elected Karnataka MLAs facing the melee of a hung verdict -- unwind in "God's Own Country".

Kerala Tourism had made the offer on Twitter amid frantic efforts by the BJP, Congress and JD(S) to cobble up the numbers to form a government.

"After the rough and tumble of the #KarnatakaVerdict, we invite all the MLAs to unwind at the safe and beautiful resorts of God's Own Country," Kerala Tourism tweeted with a 'Come Out And Play' hashtag.

The tweet was, however, taken down later.

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