BJP leader R Ashoka (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Karnataka leader of opposition and BJP leader R Ashoka on Monday confirmed that he and state BJP president BY Vijayendra will meet the party’s national president Nitin Nabin in Delhi on June 23 to brief him on the alleged cross-voting by BJP MLAs during last week’s MLC elections in the state.”Nothing of that sort. We sought the appointment; they did not call us. We had requested a meeting with the BJP national president four days ago, and he has given us time at noon tomorrow. Vijayendra and I will brief him on the cross-voting by BJP MLAs during the Legislative Council elections,” Ashoka told reporters in Bengaluru.”Both our candidates won. However, the cross-voting clearly indicates that some MLAs betrayed the BJP. We need to identify them. A committee has been constituted to investigate the matter and is expected to submit its report by today or tomorrow. We will forward the findings to the central leadership,” he added.Ashoka further stated he and Vijayendra would brief Nabin on the events surrounding the election and the cross-voting that occurred during the poll.The ruling Congress won five of the seven Legislative Council seats that went to the polls on June 18, while the BJP secured two. The JD(S), an ally of the BJP, failed to win the lone seat it contested.The results pointed to cross-voting by BJP and JD(S) legislators in favour of Congress candidates, helping the ruling party secure 151 votes — 11 more than the expected 140.Asked whether the party had identified those responsible for the cross-voting, Ashoka responded there were suspicions but no confirmation yet.”Everything will come out. Do you think those who cross-voted did so for free? Some claim it was done in the interest of development. But money is involved. It is nothing but horse-trading, though it is being projected as development. Whose development? Not that of the constituency, but personal development,” he said.The BJP leader added that those found to have engaged in cross-voting would face disciplinary action and would not be spared.(With PTI inputs)
