GANDHINAGAR, NOV 11: In an obvious attempt to keep its 46-member flock together, the ruling Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) on Tuesday whisked away all but two of its legislators to two places in north Gujarat as the countdown for the trial of strength by the Dilip Parikh government in the Assembly on November 13 begin.

Reliable sources in the RJP said one group of party MLAs were taken in a luxury bus to a water park near Mehsana, while the other batch of the legislators left in separate cars for Ambaji, a pilgrimage centre.

The RJP leadership is taking no chance and has been taking all necessary precautions against the Bhartiya Janata Party's reported attempts to lure away some of the RJP legislators. Sources said all RJP MLAs, including 15 ministers, would be brought back to Gandhinagar only few hours before the special Assembly session begins transacting business at noon on Thursday when Chief Minister Dilip Parikh is slated to seek a crucial trust vote.

The two RJP men who have stayed back in Gandhinagar are former chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela and the present incumbent Parikh.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.