BJP top brass seethes after some MLAs cross-vote in Council polls

BENGALURU: Cross-voting by its members has come as a shock for the state BJP which suffered and unexpected jolt in the elections held to seven Legislative Council seats on Thursday. The development is believed to have angered the party high command.

The cross-voting has come as a major embarrassment for the saffron camp, which seemed quite confident, and has created a storm within the party. BJP leaders did not even have the slightest hint or expectation and the excessive trust in MLAs who betrayed the party seems to have been its undoing.

As it did not fear any cross-voting by its members, BJP leaders did not take their MLAs to a resort and keep them confined, and instead left them free. However, the party was left shocked by the political game Congress played behind the scenes.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On the cross-voting in Karnataka MLC election, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, says, “Who got those 11 votes? Congress. If Congress won by buying 11 such votes, then it is a victory of democracy for… pic.twitter.com/Z6DFoSQS53

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2026

BJP leaders say that three MLAs cross-voted, but there is also a possibility that five did cross-voting. The truth will come out if BJP conducts an internal inquiry. For now, a complete report on cross-voting has been sent to the top brass.

BJP’s own frontline leaders are responsible for the MLAs’ cross-voting. They were caught off guard due to carelessness and failure to understand Congress’s strategy. Due to their own negligence, disinterest, and lack of unity, BJP leaders got a slap in the face in the Council elections.

The fallout from cross-voting could also affect the positions of BJP leaders. They could face reprimand by the high command along with disciplinary action against those who cross-voted. There is also a possibility of major changes within the party.