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🇮🇳 India /Elections & Politics

BJP summons Karnataka leaders over election cross-voting

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The BJP central leadership has summoned state leaders to Delhi following cross-voting in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, which saw the Congress win five of seven seats.
  • Party president Nitin Nabin has called Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra and other leaders for a meeting on June 23 to address the issue, and a three-member committee is investigating the matter.
  • Both BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders acknowledged internal breaches, with allegations of multiple legislators voting against the official party line.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership has summoned state leaders to Delhi, expressing strong displeasure over evidence of cross-voting within their ranks during the Karnataka Legislative Council elections. The Congress party secured a significant victory, winning five out of seven seats, which has unsettled the opposition alliance and exposed coordination gaps within the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) bloc.

What happened in the MLC elections is very unfortunate. According to us, there were four cross votes. We have taken this seriously. We have announced a fact finding committee headed by CT Ravi, and we expect a report before the 25th. Next week, I will go to Delhi and meet with all senior leaders and brief them on the situation.

— BY VijayendraBY Vijayendra, Karnataka BJP chief, acknowledged the setback and the initiation of an internal scrutiny process.

BJP President Nitin Nabin has called Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra and other key state leaders for a crucial meeting on June 23. The party has also established a three-member committee, headed by CT Ravi, to investigate the alleged deviations from the official voting line. Vijayendra acknowledged the scale of the setback, stating that internal scrutiny had already begun and that a report is expected before June 25.

I have all the information on who cross voted yesterday. Six to seven JD(S) MLAs cross voted. From BJP also, a minimum 5 to 6 MLAs have cross voted. No question of forgiving our MLAs who cross voted.

— BY VijayendraBY Vijayendra stated that he had information on legislators who deviated from the party whip and ruled out leniency.

Vijayendra confirmed that the party has information on legislators who allegedly cross-voted, indicating that six to seven JD(S) MLAs and a minimum of five to six BJP MLAs may have deviated from the whip. He emphasized that there would be no leniency for those who cross-voted and that appropriate action would be taken after briefing the party leadership in Delhi.

Four JD(S) MLAs have resorted to cross voting. I have complete information about them.

— HD KumaraswamyJD(S) leader and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy acknowledged internal breaches within his party.

Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also acknowledged internal breaches, reporting that four of his party's legislators had voted against the official position. He attributed these defections to a combination of constituency-level dissatisfaction and political calculations. Meanwhile, former minister and JD(S) MLA GT Deve Gowda rejected claims of cross-voting, asserting that he had voted according to his conscience and demanding proof from accusers.

I voted according to my conscience. Our party’s candidate will win.

— GT Deve GowdaFormer minister and JD(S) MLA GT Deve Gowda rejected claims of cross-voting, stating he voted according to his conscience.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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