BJP Summons Karnataka Leaders Over Cross-Voting in Council Elections

BY Vijayendra, LoP R Ashoka

Bengaluru: BJP brass has summoned Karnataka state chief BY Vijayendra, LoP R Ashoka and national general secretary Radhamohan Das Agarwal to Delhi on June 23 to explain cross-voting by NDA legislators in Thursday's legislative council elections. Congress won five of seven seats despite NDA having 82 MLAs in the assembly. BJP's two candidates polled 56 votes against the party's strength of 64 MLAs, while ally JDS, which has 18 MLAs, got 14 votes for its candidate despite being allotted three BJP votes under the NDA arrangement. Together, the two parties estimate that 11 legislators voted against the alliance's strategy. Party insiders said the BJP brass was upset over the state unit's failure to keep its flock together and ensure coordination with JDS. Atate functionaries are expected to explain the setback and seek action against the "black sheep". Defending the alliance's electoral plan, Vijayendra said BJP and JDS had jointly decided to contest aggressively for a third seat. "HD Kumaraswamy suggested we should not give up the contest. Based on discussions with our leadership, we backed the JDS candidate and fought together. During voting, six to seven cross-votes happened from JDS side and four to five from BJP side. We have some information on who played this game," he said. Vijayendra said he had sought an appointment with BJP president Nitin Nabin to brief him. "The party brass will take this seriously and whatever action is required will be taken," he said. The state unit has constituted a committee to probe the cross-voting and submit a report by June 25.