Probe on to identify Karnataka BJP MLAs who cross-voted; ‘will be punished’, says high command

In a high-level meeting held by BJP national president Nitin Nabin with party leaders in Karnataka regarding the cross-polling that took place in the recently concluded Legislative Council elections in the state, strong concerns were expressed about the lack of discipline within the State unit of the party, as evidenced by the cross-polling.

Disciplinary action will be taken against those found to have cross-voted against the NDA candidate in the polls after a committee headed by MLC CT Ravi and comprising State vice-chairman N. Mahesh and MLA Mahesh Tenginakayi submitted its report on the matter. The deadline for the committee to submit its report is June 25.

BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly R. Ashok and BJP general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Radha Mohan Das Agarwal were present in the meeting.

According to sources present at the meeting, Mr. Nabin had a highly negative view of cross-voting even as party leaders announced that they had warned NDA ally Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy against fielding a seventh candidate in the polls. “Nitinji said that even if JD(S)’s extra candidate strategy was flawed, how would that explain cross-voting in the BJP ranks?” a source said.

With seven seats to be won, the BJP had fielded two candidates and the Congress five. JD(S) had also fielded a candidate for the seventh seat. Due to cross-polling, the Congress’s fifth candidate won, while the JD(S) candidate lost. A large number of JD(S) and BJP MLAs are said to have cross-voted in the polls. The identification of cross-voters is now a matter for Mr. Ravi and his committee to explain.

The BJP high command feels that by fielding an extra candidate, Mr Kumaraswamy has not only conducted a loyalty test within his own party but also exposed the division in the BJP. Some in the Karnataka BJP feel that Mr. Kumaraswamy made this move at the behest of an anti-Vijayendra faction in the State unit to expose flaws in the leadership of the state unit. Whatever be the case, the Karnataka BJP appears to be a disorganized, fragmented outfit.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Ashok said that Mr. Nabin wanted the matter to be left to him and action would be taken against those who cross-voted. “We met our national president and discussed cross-polling (cross-polling in the Karnataka MLC elections) issues. He asked us to leave the matter to him and said that action has already been taken against those who betrayed the party. We also discussed the organizational issues of the party in detail. We also held discussions with our leaders on strengthening the party and bringing it to power in the coming days,” Ashok said.