Rajya Sabha Polls: Setback to BJP as Rebel Karnataka MLA ST Somashekar Cross-Votes for Congress

Voting is underway for a total of 15 Rajya Sabha seats including 10 in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one in Himachal Pradesh. In Karnataka, the Congress has fielded Ajay Maken, Syed Nasir Hussain and G C Chandrashekar while the BJP and the JD (S) have fielded one candidate each. The ruling Congress shifted its MLAs to a hotel amid fears of cross-voting.

Bengaluru (Karnataka):As voting for the four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka began on Tuesday Feb 27, the BJP-JD (S) coalition suffered a setback as disgruntled saffron party leader S T Somashekar voted for Congress saying he “voted for my conscience”.

Voting was held for the 15 Rajya Sabha seats-10 in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one seat in Himachal Pradesh today. The voting was held from 9 am to 4 pm while the results are anticipated by today evening. In Karnataka, five candidates are in fray--Ajay Maken, Syed Nasir Hussain and G C Chandrashekar of the ruling Congress, Narayansa Bhandage of the BJP, and D Kupendra Reddy of the JD(S).

Amid fears of cross-voting in favour of the BJP and the JD (S), the Congress and the BJP huddled their MLAs to a private resort. Sources said that Rajya Sabha election voting training and mock voting was conducted for Congress MLAs at the hotel itself. The state Congress had also called a meeting of all its MLAs at a private star hotel in Bengaluru and the MLAs were made to stay there overnight due to fears of cross-voting in the RS polls.

However, the resort politics did not help the BJP as disgruntled party leader TS Somasekhar, who represents the Yashvantpura assembly constituency hinted that he cross-voted for the Congress in the RS polls. “I gave my vote to those who give funds to my constituency; I voted for my conscience,” Somasekhar told reporters after casting his vote.

Ahead of the RS polls, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had said that BJP MLA S.T. Somashekar has been his “buddy for years”. Somashekar, along with fellow party MLA Shivaram Hebbar, have been skipping BJP party meetings for some time now and identifying with Congress leaders. Their moves on Tuesday were being eagerly watched.

With Somasekhar cross-voting for the Congress, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said the party was exploring legal options against the rebel leader. "We have got the information that Somashekar has done cross-voting. I believe that people do not like cheating every now and then," Ashoka said.

"I consulted with advocate Vivek Reddy who is our state legal cell president and a high court lawyer. We will ask the Speaker to initiate action against him (Somashekar) and explore the possibilities to take action in accordance with the law," he added.

Ashoka termed Somashekar's decision as "political suicide". Somashekar had quit the Congress and joined the BJP and served as the minister (in the BJP government) and he was made the Mysuru district in charge minister. The Congress and BJP-JD (S) MLAs were given training and mock voting for Rajya Sabha elections ahead of the RS polls.

Sources said that CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM Shivakumar, AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ministers HK Patil, Dr. G. Parameshwar, K. J. George, K. H. Muniyappa, Dinesh Gundurao, RV Deshpande, Bosraj, Rajya Sabha election candidate Ajay Maken, all MLAs, MLCs, MPs, office bearers were present at the Congress meeting.

The BJP too had issued a whip for all its MLAs to be compulsorily present for voting and cast their votes to the candidates as directed by the party. The elections hold significance for former PM H.D. Deve Gowda and former CM B.S. Yediyurappa. Rajya Sabha elections are the first litmus test faced by the BJP and JD-S alliance in the state. Yediyurappa’s son B.Y. Vijayendra is the BJP state President.

Police have imposed curbs in the surrounding areas of Vidhana Soudha from Monday till Feb 28 morning. The Congress has 134 MLAs, the BJP 66 and JD-S 19 MLAs. There are 2 independents and 2 others. The cross voting fear is haunting both sides.

Before voting, Rajya Sabha election observers Manoj Kumar Meena and Returning Officer Vishalakshi visited the polling booth on the first floor of the Vidhana Soudha and inspected the preparations. (With agency inputs)