BJP, which surprised through cross voting in Himachal and Uttar Pradesh, got screwed in Karnataka. Two Karnataka BJP MLAs took a different stand. One BJP MLA cross-voted, while the other MLA remained absent from voting.
BJP, which had deceived the opposition (Samajwadi Party and Congress) in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, was defeated in Karnataka. The BJP which got the support of opposition MLAs in UP and Himachal, the same BJP MLAs voted in support of Congress in Karnataka. According to the Indian Express report, with the help of two Karnataka BJP MLAs, Congress overturned the vote in the state. The two BJP MLAs who helped the Congress were earlier members of the Congress. Both had joined BJP in 2019. It is being said that both the rebel MLAs of BJP are angry with the party.
In the Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections, BJP’s Yesvantpur MLA ST Somashekhar cross-voted, while Yellapur MLA Shivram Hebbar remained absent from voting. 66 year old Somashekhar is a three-time MLA. He became the Chairman of Bengaluru Development Authority in Kumaraswamy’s government. After joining BJP in 2019, he also worked in BS Yediyurappa government.
According to the report, ST Somashekar was once considered close to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, but for the last few days, he is being seen close to Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. A few days ago, he was seen in a chartered flight with the Deputy CM, after which speculations about his return to Congress intensified. It is being said that Congress can make him its candidate from Bengaluru North in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Shivram Hebbar is also a three-time MLA
BJP MLA Shivram Hebbar, who was absent from voting, has also been a three-time MLA. Hebbar has served as Labor Minister in the previous Yediyurappa and Bommai governments. According to the report, Hebbar is also angry with BJP, although the reason for his displeasure has not been revealed yet. There is speculation that he may also return to Congress and be the party’s candidate from Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha seat. Hebbar entered politics in 1983 with the Yellapur APMC elections. In the 2008 assembly elections, he contested the Yellapur-Mundgod seat as a Congress candidate, but lost to BJP’s VS Patil.
All three Congress candidates won in Karnataka
All three Congress candidates won in the Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections, while the BJP had to be content with one seat. Five candidates were in the fray for 4 Rajya Sabha seats of Karnataka. All three Congress candidates Ajay Maken, Syed Nasir Hussain, GC Chandrashekhar won, while BJP candidate Narayansa Bhadage also won. Similarly, as the fifth candidate, Kupendra Reddy of JDS had to face defeat.
Opposition suffered setback in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh
BJP, which had failed in Karnataka, surprised in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Elections were held for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Out of these, through cross voting, BJP won 8 seats while Samajwadi Party won 2 seats. 7 Samajwadi Party MLAs did cross voting. At the same time, in Himachal too, 6 Congress MLAs also cross-voted. BJP’s Harsh Mahajan won in Himachal. He defeated Abhishek Manu Singhvi of Congress.
