Expelled BJP MLA S.T. Somashekar accused Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje of orchestrating cross-voting by BJP legislators in the recent Karnataka Legislative Council elections. He mentioned internal party rivalry as a contributing factor, pointing to conflicts between BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka.
Somashekar alleged that Shobha Karandlaje’s dislike for Vijayendra and Ashoka led to the cross-voting, suggesting it was driven by political animosity. He claimed that the cross-voting was part of a scheme to pressure Vijayendra and Ashoka to resign from their positions.
The expelled MLA defended his support for the Congress candidate in the Council polls, emphasizing that he was not contacted by BJP leaders and openly admitting his vote. He challenged BJP leaders to identify the cross-voters and criticized the internal power struggle between Vijayendra and Ashoka for influencing the election outcome.
Somashekar attributed the cross-voting to the rivalry between Vijayendra and Ashoka, suggesting that both leaders should take an oath at Dharmasthala to resolve the conflict. He highlighted the contrasting approaches of the Congress and BJP in managing their legislators before the election, pointing out the lack of preparation by BJP leaders.
Meanwhile, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra is set to visit Dharmasthala for special prayers, following discussions with party leaders on the alleged cross-voting incident. The BJP leadership has initiated a fact-finding process to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cross-voting during the Legislative Council elections.
