Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Friday expressed deep hurt over the cross-voting incident during the recent MLC elections, while firmly denying any political links with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. The controversy erupted after reports emerged that some BJP legislators had cross-voted in favor of Congress candidates in the Legislative Council polls held earlier this week.
Vijayendra's Response to Cross-Voting Allegations
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vijayendra said, "I am deeply hurt by the cross-voting that took place. The BJP had fielded two senior leaders who have dedicated years of service to the party as its candidates in the Council election. It is unfortunate that some of our own MLAs did not support them." He reiterated that the party would take disciplinary action against those found guilty of cross-voting.
Vijayendra also refuted any suggestion that he had colluded with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to engineer the cross-voting. "There is no truth in the allegations that I have any links with CM Shivakumar. Such claims are baseless and aimed at damaging my reputation," he asserted.
Background of the MLC Polls Controversy
The MLC elections for four seats from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly constituency were held on June 24, with results declared the following day. The BJP had fielded two candidates, while the Congress and JD(S) fielded one each. However, the BJP candidates failed to secure the required first-preference votes, leading to their defeat. Reports suggested that at least five BJP MLAs cross-voted in favor of Congress candidates, sparking a political storm.
Vijayendra acknowledged that the party's internal mechanism had failed to prevent the cross-voting. "We will thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that such incidents do not recur. The party's discipline committee will take appropriate action against the erring MLAs," he added.
Political Fallout and Future Steps
The cross-voting incident has raised questions about the unity within the Karnataka BJP unit. Opposition parties, including the Congress and JD(S), have seized the opportunity to criticize the BJP's internal management. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, however, denied any role in the cross-voting, stating that the Congress had not approached any BJP MLAs.
Vijayendra concluded by emphasizing that the BJP would focus on strengthening its organizational structure in Karnataka. "We will learn from this setback and work harder to ensure party discipline. The people of Karnataka have always supported us, and we will not let them down," he said.
