Fearing 'Operation Lotus', Congress plans to shift Himachal MLAs to Rajasthan

AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is personally trying to stop the Congress MLAs in Himachal Pradesh from crossing over to the BJP, according to reports.

The party's state leadership is on high alert to pre-empt any poaching attempt by the BJP.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda have been tasked by the national leadership to shift MLAs to Rajasthan, India Today reports.

The Congress leadership is reportedly anxious of the BJP carrying out the 'Operation Lotus', which could thin out the Congress.

Reports say that the MLAs are likely to be shifted in buses to Rajasthan.

Priayanka Gandhi will arrive in Shimla today where counting for assembly polls show early signals of a tie-up between ruling BJP and the Congress in numbers.

And it is too close to call at this point because both parties are closely fighting by the difference of three seats as of 9: 30 in the morning.

It is too early to say if the BJP will buck the anti-incumbency feelings in the state.

No ruling parties have been re-elected to power in the state since 1985. Going by this tradition, the Congress is well poised to return to power, according to India Today.

As the counting shows the BJP putting up an unusually stronger performance, the fears of the Congress losing its MLAs to the BJP is not unfounded.

The Congress is currently holding power only in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh with the party failing to register any victory beyond these states.

Winning the election in Himachal Pradesh will mean the world to the party. But losing MLAs to the BJP will spell doom for the grand old party.