Rajya Sabha Election 2024: In Karnataka, BJP’s ST Somashekhar casts a cross-vote for the Congress

A noteworthy development during the current Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections is that BJP MLA ST Somashekar allegedly cast a cross-vote in favor of the Congress party, according to BJP Chief Whip Doddanagouda G. Patil. The decision of MLA ST Somashekar to vote for the Congress party has taken the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka by surprise. In political circles, his sudden move has drawn attention, particularly during important elections.

Party’s reaction
BJP Chief Whip Doddanagouda G. Patil responded to the incident by saying that the party would look into it in detail and that the offending MLA would face harsh consequences. “ST Somashekar’s cross-voting has been verified. We’re talking about what can be done and how to proceed,” he declared.

A declaration from ST Somashekar
“I will vote in favor of those who assure me and give confidence that they will give funds for the water and other management in my constituency,” ST Somashekar told reporters prior to casting his ballot.

Contestants in the ring
There are five candidates running for the four Rajya Sabha seats: Kupendra Reddy from JD(S), Narayansa Bandage from the BJP, Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain, and G C Chandrasekhar from the Congress.

Distribution of seats
The results of the elections will preserve the status quo in Karnataka, where three Congress MPs and one BJP MP are retiring. With 135 MLAs, the Congress has a definite majority and can guarantee the election of its three candidates; the BJP, on the other hand, can guarantee the victory of its main candidate with 66 MLAs. To win a seat in the Rajya Sabha, a candidate needs to receive at least 45 votes.

Parties’ trust
BJP leader Pralhad Joshi expressed hope for the party’s chances in the elections, while Congress leaders Ramalinga Reddy and Rizwan Arshad expressed confidence in their candidates winning without cross-voting.