'Karnataka MLAs never left Mumbai; still in city'

A dozen MLAs from Karnataka, who flew to Mumbai three days ago after quitting the southern state's assembly are still camping in the financial capital, a legislator said.

The confirmation by Karnataka Congress MLA B C Patil on Tuesday came after speculation that the legislators were holed up near Satara in western Maharashtra.

Patil told reporters that he the other MLAs were still in Mumbai, even as it was announced that Karnataka Congress leader and minister D K Shivakumar would reach Mumbai on Wednesday to meet his party's dissident MLAs.

An aide to the minister that the location of the meeting in Mumbai is not known yet.

There were reports earlier on Tuesday that the legislators were near Satara and had returned to Mumbai later in the day, but Patil said the MLAs have been staying in the city since Saturday.

"The MLAs merely shifted from one hotel to another on Monday night," Patil said.

"We are managing on our own. The Bharatiya Janata Party is not involved (in footing the travel and accommodation bill). The BJP has not given us any offer for formation of the new government," Patil said.

He said he had resigned as an MLA as there was "no development" in his north Karnataka area.

The MLAs would submit their resignation letters in the format sought by the assembly speaker, he said.

"We will decide when to leave for Bengaluru after we get an official communication from the Speaker," he added.

There are 12 rebel MLAs in Mumbai -- seven of Congress, three Janata Dal-Secular and two independents.

BJP sources had said the MLAs, who were staying at a luxury hotel since Saturday, left for Pune on Monday night but the flight to Goa, scheduled at 8.30 pm did not take off due to poor visibility. Also, there was no landing facility in Goa after midnight, they said.

The legislators were put up at a resort in Kondhwa near Pune and returned to Mumbai around noon, they said.