JD(S) Suffers Setback as Candidate Gets Only 14 Votes Amid Cross-Voting
The Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) faced an embarrassing defeat in the recent Legislative Council elections, with its candidate Govindaraju securing just 14 votes. The result came as a shock to the party leadership, which had expected a stronger showing. Cross-voting by some of its own legislators and a last-minute change in the allocation of votes by its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contributed to the poor performance.
The JD(S) had fielded a candidate primarily to maintain unity among its legislators, but the strategy backfired. Party sources confirmed that four of its 18 legislators cross-voted, while the BJP's promised support did not materialise as expected. The BJP, which is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) along with the JD(S), initially planned to allocate 29 votes to its candidates. However, at the last moment, it increased the quota to 30 for its own candidates, reducing the votes available for the JD(S).
Senior JD(S) leader G.T. Devegowda, who had distanced himself from the party leadership, said he voted according to his conscience, triggering speculation about his loyalty. Party sources said they had a fair idea of which four legislators cross-voted, but declined to name them.
Despite the setback, party leaders expressed confidence that the result would not affect the larger party base, especially with the State Assembly elections less than two years away. However, they acknowledged the need for introspection and strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level. “We have assured all sitting legislators of re-nomination in the 2028 Assembly polls and extended party support during elections. Despite such assurances, if legislators cross-vote, it is sad,” a party source said.
The election outcome also highlighted the challenge of cultivating individual leaders who may not show loyalty to the party in times of need. Party sources emphasised the importance of building a strong institutional base rather than relying on individual loyalties. When asked if the cross-voting was a setback, sources said it was too early to assess.
