Bengaluru, 22 June

Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R Ashoka on Monday said that he and Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra would meet party national president Nitin Nabin in New Delhi on 23 June to brief him on the alleged cross-voting by Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) during last week's MLC elections in the state.

"A committee has been constituted to investigate the matter, and it is expected to submit its report by today or tomorrow. We will forward the report to the central leadership," he said.

Asked whether the party had identified those responsible for the cross-voting, Ashoka said there were suspicions but no confirmation.

"Do you think those who cross-voted did so for free? … money is involved. It is nothing but horse-trading," he said.

He added that those involved in the cross-voting would not be spared and would face disciplinary action.

Ashoka alleged that the Congress had induced MLAs to cross-vote. He claimed that the Congress would face political consequences and that leaders from the ruling party would join the BJP in the coming days.

With Vijayendra proposing a BJP legislature party meeting in the temple town of Dharmasthala—indicating that MLAs might be asked to take a 'pramaana' (oath) before Lord Manjunatha to reveal the truth about the cross-voting—Ashoka said several senior party leaders had advised against using a holy place for political purposes.