MLAs of Jharkhand's ruling alliance land in Hyderabad, accommodated in luxury resort

The political drama in Jharkhand shifted to Hyderabad on Friday with about 40 MLAs of the ruling JMM-led alliance in the state flying to the Telangana capital amid the coalition's fears that the BJP may attempt to ''poach'' them in the run-up to the trust vote to be faced by the newly-formed Champai Soren government.

About 40 legislators arrived at the Begumpet airport here in two flights late in the afternoon, Congress sources said. AICC Telangana in-charge Deepa Das Munshi and state Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar received the MLAs. The Congress, a major constituent of the alliance in Jharkhand, is in power in Telangana.

Soon after their arrival, the MLAs headed to the 'Leonia Holistic Destination' at Shamirpet on the city outskirts in luxury buses.

The sprawling facility offers extensive banquet halls, meeting and event facilities.

Barricades have been placed on an approach road leading to the resort by the police and entry was restricted.

As part of routine security arrangements, the police personnel were deployed there, police said.

A highly-placed Telangana Congress source told PTI that the Jharkhand MLAs would leave on January 5 when the Champai Soren government faces the trust vote.

''They will leave on Monday. The trust vote is on Monday,'' the source said.