Bengaluru, February 11 Amid speculation about a foreign trip by Congress legislators, against the backdrop of the power struggle within the ruling party in Karnataka, MLA C Puttarangashetty announced on Wednesday that 22 of them will be travelling to Australia and New Zealand next week. He said the trip is being organized by the state's Animal Husbandry department to study international livestock and sericulture practices. Minister K Venkatesh will be leading the legislators. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said earlier in the day that he was unaware of the trip and that the MLAs may be funding the excursion themselves. "We are travelling to Australia and New Zealand, at the invitation of the Animal Husbandry department, to gather more information about animal husbandry in those countries. About 20-22 of us are going. While some are coming with their families, others are going alone," said Puttarangashetty, a Congress MLA. Speaking to reporters, he clarified that the trip is being organized by the department, at the state's expense. "We will be travelling from February 18 to March 3. We will be back before the state budget. The Animal Husbandry minister is coordinating with us. Legislators from various regions of the state will be coming. Minister Venkatesh will also be coming with us," he added. Earlier in the day, there were reports about Congress legislators planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand, amid the power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for the top post. When asked whether the Chief Minister had been briefed, the MLA replied, "I'm not sure, the Animal Husbandry minister is coordinating." To a query whether AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala had issued any instructions not to go ahead with the trip, he said, "nothing of that sort has happened."
