Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar was detained by Mumbai Police on Wednesday who after being denied entry was sitting outside Renaissance Hotel where 10 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs are staying.

Section 144 had been imposed in the area because of the “likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity”.

Huge drama unfolded early in the day as Shivakumar was stopped outside the gates of Renaissance – Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel after the rebel lawmakers refused to meet him.

The rebel MLAs had reportedly written to the police stating that they felt “threatened with the minister’s arrival”.

“We have heard CM and DK Shivakumar are going to storm the hotel, we feel threatened,” the letter read.

“We the following elected members of Legislative Assembly of the state of Karnataka are staying at Hotel Renaissance Powai in Mumbai. We have heard that Shri Kumaraswamy and DK Shivakumar and others are going to storm in the hotel premises, we feel threatened for the same. We do not want to meet Shivakumar, kind request to help us in this matter and do not allow them to enter the hotel premises (sic.),” the MLAs said in the letter.

After his arrival, he told the media that he has booked a room in the hotel. However, his booking was cancelled by the hotel after some time.

Once again @BJP4India doing what it does best – DISRESPECTING DEMOCRACY

After umpteen failed Operation Lotus attempts now they have detained @DKShivakumar ji, @milinddeora ji, @GaneshMPYC along with Congress workers & activists.

Shame on @Dev_Fadnavis ‘s Govt!#BJPKidnapsMLAs pic.twitter.com/EjIXVbv2ue

— Radhika Khera (@Radhika_Khera) July 10, 2019

Security has been tightened with the Maharashtra State Reserve Police Force and Riot Control Police being deployed outside the hotel.

DK Shivakumar and JD(S) MLA Shivalinge Gowda arrived in Mumbai early on Wednesday morning by a special flight from Bengaluru to meet the rebel MLAs.

The 13-month-old coalition government is trying to save its face desperately after a total of 16 MLAs resigned from the ruling alliance – 11 from Congress and three from JD (S) by Saturday and two more, including one Independent on Monday.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad were detained on Wednesday while protesting near Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru over the political crisis in the state.

Earlier in the day, the rebel MLAs moved the Supreme Court accusing the Karnataka Speaker of abandoning his constitutional duty and deliberately delaying acceptance of their resignations.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar had on Tuesday dismissed resignations of eight lawmakers as “faulty”.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi will represent the Karnataka Congress in the court tomorrow, KC Venugopal said.