Gowda Alleges Ignored Warnings on Cross-Voting in Karnataka MLC Polls
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Saturday asserted that he had alerted state party leaders about the potential for cross-voting in the recent Legislative Council (MLC) elections, but his concerns were dismissed. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Gowda claimed that an 'important person' had informed him that two to three leaders from both the BJP and the Congress were meeting and discussing specifics related to the MLC polls.
Details of the Alleged Meeting
Gowda stated, 'An important person told me that 2-3 leaders each from BJP and Congress, were meeting, speaking specifically about MLC polls.' He further alleged that despite his warnings, state BJP leaders, including party president B.Y. Vijayendra and former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashoka, paid no heed. The MLC elections, held earlier this week, saw the BJP losing one seat to the Congress, amid allegations of cross-voting by BJP MLAs.
Impact on Party Morale
The cross-voting allegations have sparked internal dissent within the Karnataka BJP unit. Gowda's remarks come as a setback for the party leadership, which has been struggling to maintain unity ahead of the 2028 assembly elections. The former CM emphasized that the party high command should take note of such internal conflicts to prevent further damage.
