Cross-voting came as a reality check for the JD(S), which had only 18 votes but had entered the fray only to test party cohesion ahead of the Bengaluru civic polls and the Assembly election two years from now.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislative Council election Thursday delivered a major setback to the BJP and JD(S) after some of their lawmakers cross-voted, helping the governing Congress bag five out of seven seats.
According to the BJP, three of its MLAs and eight from JD(S) voted for Congress. The JD(S), however, claimed that four of its MLAs and seven from BJP cross-voted.
Despite cross-voting, the BJP won two seats. This is being seen as a reflection on BJP state president BY Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka.
Cross-voting came as a reality check for the JD(S), which had only 18 votes but had entered the fray only to test party cohesion ahead of the Bengaluru civic polls and the Assembly election two years from now.
Now with 39 MLCs, the Congress has a majority in the 75-member Legislative Council.
Soon after the results, jubilant Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the cross-votes a “stamp of approval” for the government’s guarantees and policies.