The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its legislative party meeting at the Sri Manjunatheshwara temple in Dharmasthala in a bid to address allegations that some MLAs voted against the party during the Legislative Council elections held last week, state president P Vijayendra said on Sunday.
According to informed leaders, the lawmakers are likely to be asked to “take oath before Lord Manjunatha” and declare whether they voted against the party’s official candidates in the elections held through the secret ballot system.
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“No matter who they are, the MLAs have betrayed their mother. We are believers in God. Everyone should come to Dharmastala. A meeting of the legislative party will be held there. The truth should come out in the temple and a decision will be taken,” Vijayendra said, adding that the meeting could be held within a week.
Media reports and discussions on social media suggesting that at least four BJP MLAs voted cross-voted have raised doubts about the entire legislative wing of the party, he said. “Our party workers have expressed their displeasure over the behavior of our legislators. This development has, in a way, raised suspicions on 63 BJP legislators,” he said. “Whoever is found guilty of cross-voting will have to face the proceedings regardless of seniority.”
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Vijayendra said he spoke to BJP president Nitin Nabin and will travel to New Delhi with Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka to brief the party leadership.
The party has formed a fact-finding committee comprising CT Ravi, Mahesh Tenjinakai and N Mahesh to examine the charges.
The dispute came after elections for seven seats in the Legislative Council in which the Congress won five seats and the BJP won two seats, while the JD(S) failed to win the seat it contested. Congressional candidates collectively received 151 votes, exceeding the party’s projected strength of 140 votes.
The BJP, which has 64 legislators, saw its candidates receiving a total of 56 votes, while the JD(S), which has 18 legislators, got just 14 votes for its candidate.
According to the BJP’s allocation, each of its candidates was expected to get 30 votes. Raghu Kautilya received 29 valid votes after one ballot in his favor was rejected due to an error. Lingaraj Patel received 27 votes, one short of the minimum required in the initial count, but was declared elected in the elimination round.
