NEW DELHI: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Sunday said the party will hold a legislature party meeting at Dharmasthala to uncover the truth behind allegations of cross-voting by BJP MLAs during the recent Legislative Council elections.He said legislators may be asked to take a ‘Pramaana’ (oath/vow) before Lord Manjunatha and reveal whether they voted against the party’s candidates.Vijayendra termed the alleged cross-voting as a “betrayal” and said the matter would be taken to its logical conclusion.“We all believe in God. Everyone will have to come to the holy town of Dharmasthala, where a legislature party meeting should be held. The truth will come out there, and the matter should be decided there,” Vijayendra told reporters, according to news agency PTI.Dharmasthala, located on the banks of the Nethravati River in Dakshina Kannada district, is a prominent pilgrimage centre with an 800-year-old history.The temple town is dedicated to Lord Manjunatha, a form of Lord Shiva. According to local belief, anyone who speaks an untruth before the deity faces consequences.
BJP suspicion over cross-voting
The BJP chief said reports in the media and social media suggested that at least four BJP MLAs had cross-voted during the Legislative Council polls, creating suspicion over all 63 party legislators.“There is a lot of discussion in the media, the press and social media regarding at least four cross-votes from BJP MLAs during the recent Legislative Council polls. Our party workers have expressed displeasure about the conduct of our legislators. This development has, in a way, caused suspicion about 63 BJP legislators,” Vijayendra said.He said the incident had upset party workers and damaged the confidence of the cadre.“It is natural that the workers are hurt, and there will be reactions in the media. I’m not saying they are wrong. But somewhere, we must put an end to such an act by legislators who have won on a BJP ticket with the blessing of the people and the hard work of party workers,” he said.Vijayendra added that those found guilty would face action irrespective of their position.“Whoever is found guilty of cross-voting will have to face action regardless of seniority,” he said, adding that the issue must be resolved to protect the party’s image.
Fact-finding panel formed
The BJP has already constituted a fact-finding committee comprising party leaders C T Ravi, Mahesh Tenginakai and N Mahesh to examine the allegations.Vijayendra said he had spoken to BJP national president Nitin Nabin over the matter and would travel to Delhi along with leader of opposition R Ashoka to discuss the issue.“You may not believe it — I got up at 3 am today because I wanted to take the issue to a logical end. I called the party’s national president at 7 am yesterday, and he sought an explanation,” he said.The BJP leadership has also summoned senior Karnataka leaders to Delhi over the issue, with state president Vijayendra, R Ashoka and state in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal expected to meet the high command.
Congress gains in MLC polls
The controversy erupted after the ruling Congress won five of the seven Legislative Council seats that went to polls, while the BJP secured two seats. The JD(S) failed to win the seat it contested.The voting pattern raised questions over cross-voting within the opposition ranks. Congress candidates together received 151 votes, higher than the party’s expected strength of 140, while BJP and JD(S) candidates fell short of their anticipated numbers.The BJP had 64 MLAs, and its two candidates received a combined 56 votes, while the JD(S), which has 18 MLAs, received only 14 votes for its candidate.The results triggered speculation of cross-voting from NDA legislators.Vijayendra said the secret ballot system had made it difficult to identify the legislators involved but assured that the party would complete its inquiry.“Because of the secret ballot, suspicion has fallen on all 63 legislators, including me,” he said.The BJP leader said the proposed Dharmasthala meeting would help bring clarity to the issue and reassure party workers who have expressed anger over the alleged betrayal.