Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok. and BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra.
| Photo Credit: File photo
The embarrassing episode of cross-voting by some BJP MLAs in the recently-held elections to the Legislative Council is now at the doorstep of the high command, with BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok heading to Delhi to attend a meeting convened in this regard by party national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday (June 23).
Assuming an aggressive posture ahead of the meeting, Mr. Ashok said, “We are going to hunt down the thieves.” The fact-finding committee led by C.T. Ravi, party MLC, is set to submit an interim report on the cross-voting episode before the meeting, sources said.
The BJP-JD(S) alliance suffered a setback in the elections to the Legislative Council as 11 MLAs from the combine indulged in cross-voting to support the ruling Congress.
The BJP is of the view that four of its MLAs violated the party whip. Asked if the party had identified the MLAs who cross-voted, Mr. Ashok said, “We have suspicion on a few, but we need confirmation.” He indicated that details in this regard may emerge in the fact-finding report.
Brushing aside speculations that some MLAs from the Opposition did not have any other option but to cross-vote in favour of the ruling Congress candidates to get developmental funds for their constituencies, Mr. Ashok remarked: “It is for their own personal development.”
He claimed that the BJP State leaders had not been “summoned” by the party Central leadership, but had sought an appointment. Launching a counter-attack on the Congress, which had termed the BJP’s operation Kamala as “immoral”, he wondered if cross-voting was part of operation hastha (hand) by the Congress. “The Congress will have to face the repercussion. The time is not far when the Congress MLAs will come to the BJP,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda told a private TV channel that the episode would not have taken place if the Central leadership had analysed the defeat in the recent Assembly bypolls and taken suitable action.
He claimed he had passed on information regarding efforts by a group to indulge in cross-voting to the party State leaders ahead of polling.
Published – June 22, 2026 09:08 pm IST
