Karnataka BJP to probe cross-voting in Legislative Council polls
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP won two Legislative Council seats but is now hunting for the legislators who broke ranks — three votes crossed over and one was invalidated, handing Congress a windfall beyond its expected strength. With a formal internal probe announced by both the state president and the Leader of the Opposition, disciplinary action could soon reshape factional lines within a party still rebuilding after its 2023 Assembly defeat.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP announced a probe into cross-voting in the Legislative Council elections on 18 June .
Three votes expected for BJP candidate Lingaraj Patil crossed over; one vote intended for Raghu Kautilya was declared invalid.
Despite the cross-voting, both Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya won seats in the seven-member Council poll.
The cross-voting boosted Congress beyond its projected Assembly strength.
Ashoka (Leader of the Opposition) and B.Y.
Vijayendra (BJP State President) confirmed an internal review before any disciplinary action.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 18 June vowed to identify legislators responsible for cross-voting in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, warning that party members who deviated from the party line would be held accountable. The announcement came even as the BJP celebrated the victory of its two candidates in the seven-member Council poll.
BJP Candidates Win Despite Setback
Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka congratulated winning candidates Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya on their Council victories. Speaking to reporters, Ashoka confirmed that the party was pleased with the outcome but acknowledged irregularities in the voting pattern.
'We are happy that our candidates, Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya, have emerged victorious in the Legislative Council elections,' he said. He added that the BJP would examine the issue in detail and discuss it internally before taking further action.
What the Voting Pattern Revealed
According to Ashoka, three votes had crossed over from the BJP's expected tally, while one vote was declared invalid. Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra provided a more granular breakdown, stating that three votes expected to go to Lingaraj Patil had crossed over, and one vote intended for Raghu Kautilya was declared invalid.
The cross-voting benefited the ruling Congress, which secured more votes than its projected strength in the Assembly — a notable outcome in a poll where legislator arithmetic is typically predictable.
What the Party Said
'We will investigate who cross-voted and the reasons behind it. The matter will be discussed on the party platform, and an appropriate decision will be taken,' Ashoka said. Vijayendra echoed this position, saying a thorough review would precede any disciplinary action.
The statements were made at Jagannath Bhavan, the BJP state headquarters in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, where several senior leaders were present, including MLAs Harish Poonja and Mahesh Tenginkai, MLC Keshava Prasad, former MP S. Muniswamy, BJP State General Secretary P. Rajeev, Bengaluru North District President S. Harish, and Bengaluru Central District President Saptagiri Gowda.
Broader Political Context
Cross-voting in Karnataka's Legislative Council is not unprecedented, but the scale — four votes either lost or invalidated — is significant enough to prompt a formal party inquiry. This comes amid an already tense political climate in the state, where the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been consolidating its legislative position. The BJP, now in opposition after losing the 2023 Assembly elections, faces internal cohesion challenges as it rebuilds.
The party has indicated it will scrutinise the voting pattern closely, and disciplinary proceedings — if initiated — could reshape factional alignments within the Karnataka BJP ahead of future electoral contests.
Point of View
Or one that names no one, would signal weakness at the top. Conversely, naming and punishing sitting legislators risks further fragmenting a caucus the BJP can ill afford to shrink.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections?
The Karnataka Legislative Council elections saw significant cross-voting, with three BJP votes crossing over and one being declared invalid. Despite this, BJP candidates Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya won seats in the seven-member poll, while Congress secured more votes than its expected strength.
Who are the BJP candidates who won the Karnataka Council election?
The two winning BJP candidates are Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya. Both were congratulated by senior party leaders including Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka and BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra at the party headquarters in Malleswaram, Bengaluru.
What action will the BJP take against cross-voters?
The BJP has announced an internal review to identify who crossed over and the reasons behind it. Both R. Ashoka and B.Y. Vijayendra said a decision will be taken only after the matter is discussed on the party platform, stopping short of announcing immediate disciplinary action.
How did the cross-voting affect the election outcome?
The cross-voting helped the Congress secure additional votes beyond its projected Assembly strength. However, it was not enough to prevent the BJP's two candidates from winning, as they still managed to secure their seats in the seven-member Council election.
Where did the BJP announce the cross-voting probe?
The announcement was made at Jagannath Bhavan, the BJP state headquarters in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, where senior leaders including MLAs, an MLC, a former MP, and district presidents were present alongside the state president and the Leader of the Opposition.
