The embarrassing episode of cross-voting by some Opposition BJP MLAs in the recent elections to the Legislative Council has taken a curious turn, with party State president B.Y. Vijayendra announcing that a legislature party meeting will be held at the pilgrimage centre of Dharmasthala to uncover the truth about who violated party whip.

Disclosing this to the press in Bengaluru on Sunday (June 21), Mr. Vijayendra said he would talk to Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly R. Ashok about his intention to hold the legislature party meeting in Dharmasthala. As per norms, Mr. Ashok is the authority to convene a legislature party meeting as he is the legislature party leader.

It may be noted that there is a belief among devotees of the pilgrimage centre of taking a vow (truth test) at the temple during disputes. Sources close to Mr. Vijayendra maintained that he is of the view that MLAs making it clear that they voted for the party candidate at the legislature party meeting proposed to be held in Dharmasthala would be similar to taking a vow. “The party will not insist on each MLA taking a vow in the temple. But we believe that they vouch for the truth at the legislature party meeting as it is being held at the pilgrimage centre. Those who indulge in cross-voting may skip the meeting,” they said.

“We all (BJP legislators) believe in God. Hence, I have decided that the meeting of party MLAs should be held in Dharmasthala to know the truth about who deceived the party by indulging in cross-voting,” Mr. Vijayendra told media persons.

It may be noted that the BJP-JD(S) combine suffered a setback and a political embarrassment as the JD(S) candidate lost in the Council polls, in which 11 MLAs from the combine indulged in cross-voting and backed the ruling Congress.

While the BJP is yet to identify the MLAs who cross-voted, speculation is rife that at least four of its members have violated the party whip asking them to vote for the alliance candidate.

It may be noted that the party has constituted a fact-finding committee led by C. T. Ravi, MLC, to look into the episode. But even before the committee identifying those who indulged in cross-voting, Mr. Vijayendra opting to “seek truth” at the pilgrimage centre has given rise to political curiosity.

According to sources, Mr. Vijayendra is upset over the outrage, particularly on social media, towards the cross-voting episode as some sections, particularly his political detractors, have blamed him for the embarrassment. He is believed to have chosen this option as a desperate measure to prove that he has nothing to do with cross-voting.

Hinting at this, Mr. Vijayendra told the press, “I have seen the criticism on social media. My conscience cannot accept cross-voting. But there are efforts to indirectly attack (me) by using this. The cross-voting episode has made people doubt all the 63 MLAs of the party. I am pained by this. I even called up the party national president and expressed my view that the issue should be taken to its logical end. Mr. Ashok and I are going to Delhi to meet the party Central leaders in this regard,” he said.