Cross-voting deepens rift in Karnataka BJP ahead of 2028 Assembly polls

Cross-voting by BJP MLAs during the recent Legislative Council elections has intensified suspicion and mistrust within the party's Karnataka unit, already plagued by factionalism. The incident has raised concerns among senior leaders about its impact on cadre morale as the party prepares for the next Assembly elections due in 2028.

The state unit has been grappling with internal dissent, with a faction opposing State President B.Y. Vijayendra, son of veteran leader B.S. Yediyurappa. Critics accuse him of deviating from the party's stance against dynastic politics. While the Central leadership expelled rebel MLA Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal for six years earlier, the cross-voting has reignited tensions.

Supporters of Vijayendra suspect his detractors orchestrated the cross-voting to undermine his leadership. Vijayendra himself said the incident has led the cadre to view all 63 MLAs with suspicion. Opponents, meanwhile, have blamed him on social media for the embarrassment.

Some party insiders question the decision to field an extra candidate in the Council elections, which made the cross-voting more damaging. They note that it publicly demonstrated the BJP-JD(S) coalition's inability to counter the political strategies of new Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, known for his aggressive style.

Plans for a legislature party meeting at the Dharmasthala temple to 'seek the truth' about the cross-voting face opposition. Former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and MLAs S. Suresh Kumar and Arvind Bellad have objected to using a pilgrimage centre for political purposes. Leader of Opposition R. Ashok said he would discuss the matter with Vijayendra to reconsider the venue.

The episode echoes a previous cross-voting incident during a Rajya Sabha election, which took time for the party to recover from. As the 2028 polls approach, the BJP high command faces pressure to address the internal strife and improve coalition coordination.