MLC Polls: Nitin Nabin hints at tough action against BJP MLAs who voted for the Congress
Nabin spoke to state BJP president BY Vijayendra and Opposition leader R Ashoka, who presented him with a preliminary report on the development. Around 6-7 MLAs are said to have cross-voted and defied the party whip leading to an upset win for the party candidate and fewer votes for the JDS (NDA) candidate.
While seeking a detailed report from the state unit, the BJP president also said that he has collected some preliminary information from his own sources and that the party will come down heavily on those who betrayed it at an appropriate time. Party general secretary Radha Mohan Das Agarwal also attended the meeting.
“We have given detailed information to the party president,” Vijayendra told the media after the meeting. The party chairman takes harsh action against those who betray the party. Ashoka added that he had all the information with him.
A three-member committee comprising CT Ravi, N Mahesh (Kollegal) and Mahesh Tenginkai is investigating the matter and trying to ascertain the number of cross-voting MPs and identify them. Since MLC polls are conducted by secret ballot, they rely on their own logical judgment based on information collected verbally from their party colleagues.
Fact test idea dropped
Ashoka told media persons in Delhi that the party had abandoned the idea of holding a legislative assembly meeting at Dharmasthala after Vijayendra’s idea of holding a truth test at the famous temple led to resistance from a section of senior leaders.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi, former CM DV Sadananda Gowda and senior MLA S Suresh Kumar were some of the prominent leaders who opposed the temple’s involvement in the shady affair. Since there is a strong belief among the people that the presiding deity Manjunatha is the defender of truth and no one can escape by lying in the temple, the state BJP president has toyed with the idea of seeking divine intervention.
