Senior BJP leaders in Karnataka have raised concerns over alleged cross-voting by party MLAs during the recent Legislative Council elections and will take up the matter with the party’s central leadership in New Delhi.
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka said he and Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra will meet party national president Nitin Nabin on June 23 in Delhi to brief him on the alleged cross-voting and submit a detailed report prepared by a state-level committee.
Ashoka said the party had sought an appointment with the central leadership a few days earlier and had been granted time for the meeting. He rejected suggestions that the leadership had summoned them, insisting that the visit was initiated by the state unit.
The controversy follows the recent MLC elections in which the ruling Congress won five of the seven seats, while the BJP secured two. The JD(S), which contested one seat, failed to win. However, the results indicated possible cross-voting by BJP and JD(S) legislators in favour of Congress candidates, with the ruling party reportedly securing 11 votes more than expected.
Ashoka alleged that some BJP MLAs had “betrayed” the party and claimed that the issue pointed to possible horse-trading. He said a committee constituted by the party was investigating the matter and is expected to submit its report shortly, which will be shared with the central leadership.
Also read: BJP to hold meet at Dharmasthala after cross-voting in MLC polls
“Both our candidates won. However, the cross-voting clearly indicates that some MLAs betrayed the BJP. We need to identify who they are,” he said, adding that disciplinary action would follow once responsibility is fixed.
Rejecting claims that the party high command was unhappy with the state leadership, Ashoka said such incidents were not new in Karnataka politics and similar instances had occurred in the past.
He also referred to internal discussions within the party over a proposal by B Y Vijayendra to hold a legislature party meeting at Dharmasthala, where MLAs would be asked to take an oath before Lord Manjunatha regarding their role in the cross-voting. However, senior leaders, including former ministers and party veterans, advised against conducting any political exercise in a religious place, warning it could set a “bad precedent”.
Ashoka said the matter would be discussed further with Vijayendra during the Delhi meeting and that the party would abide by the advice of senior leaders.
He alleged that cross-voting reflected attempts at inducement and political manipulation, while also asserting that such practices were not unique to one party. The BJP leader claimed that political realignments were common and predicted that leaders from the ruling party could eventually join the BJP.
The issue has further intensified political tensions in the state following the Council election results.
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