The ruling Congress party in Karnataka won three Rajya Sabha seats, while the Opposition BJP secured one seat as results for the biennial elections were announced on Tuesday evening.
All three Congress candidates – Ajay Maken, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, and GC Chandrashekhar won the elections with 47, 46 and 46 votes, respectively. BJP candidate Narayana Bandage also managed to win the Rajya Sabha polls.
Earlier today, BJP MLA ST Somashekar rebelled against the party and voted in favour of Congress candidate Ajay Maken, while another MLA Arbail Shivaram Hebbal abstained from voting.
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The BJP has confirmed it’s MLA voting in favour of the Congress party and said that the party will ask the Speaker to initiate action against him.
“We have got the information that Somashekar has done cross-voting. I believe that people do not like cheating every now and then,” Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka told reporters.
“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 steps in accordance with the law,” he added.
Somashekhar was earlier in the Congress party but switched over the the BJP and was made a minister in the previous government.
After voting, the BJP rebel told reporters that he voted for those who built schools and carried out development works in hai constituency.
“I went by my conscience and voted for those who worked for building schools and carry out development works in my constituency,” he said.
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