Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 18: While Congress celebrates Supreme Court’s order as “vindication” that Governor Vajubhai Vala acted unconstitutionally, Congress leader Anand Singh, the MLA-elect from Vijayanagar in Ballari district, who has curiously gone 'missing' before the crucial floor test, has sent rumour mills buzzing.

Known to be a turncoat, Singh had joined Congress from the BJP only in January this year. He was previously tourism minister in the BJP government that ruled the state from 2008-2013.

While speculations are rife that Singh has gone back to the BJP, which is desperately trying to reach the half-way mark, former chief minister Siddaramaiah has allegesd that Singh has been 'kidnapped' by the central government.

He alleged that the BJP has used Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax I-T department against the leader.

"(Congress MLA) Anand Singh is abducted and kept in wrongful confinement by the BJP people using the ED and I-T. This is what the BJP people are doing, shamelessly doing... (BJP president) Amit Shah did the same kind of manipulation in all the states. They don't know the Constitution and the law. They don't know anything other than false propaganda", Siddaramaiah told the media.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said Anand Singh was in Delhi and in touch. "He is in Delhi. He is with us. Anand Singh is (at present) in captivity. Once he is free, he will be with us. He is being held hostage, but he is in touch," he said.

Anand is one of the richest politicians in Karnataka. He runs business in mining, trade and hospitality. He is also the editor of Ananda Karnataka Daily.

Singh was a close associate of mining baron Janardhana Reddy. He was arrested in 2013 for his involvement in the 2009 Ballari mining scam. He was granted conditional bail in 2015, but was arrested again the same year for illegally transporting iron ore. He has cases on rioting, murder, and criminal intimidation registered against him.

When Singh joined Congress, he was among the unpopular candidates. While Congress rubbed BJP for giving tickets to Reddy brothers and Sriramalu, they shot back questioning on why they were fielding Anand Singh. "What about Congress leaders Anand Singh, Nagendra and Anil Lad?" Sriramalu had questioned.

Singh has gone incommunicado since May 15. He was not among the Congress MLAs in Eagleton Resort and was also missing from the protest launched by Congress and JD(S) leaders at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.