Rajya Sabha election: Karnataka BJP MLA ST Somasekhar hints voting for Congress

There has been speculation about Somasekhar joining the Congress, but he did not make any comments on it.

Published on: Feb 27, 2024, 13:45:09 IST

By HT News Desk

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Amid concerns over cross-voting in the Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections, BJP MLA ST Somasekhar hinted that he voted for the Congress in the poll, which is currently underway at Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha. The Yashvantpura MLA said he voted for the party which is giving funds to his constituency.

Rajya Sabha election: Karnataka BJP MLA ST Somasekhar hints voting for Congress

When Somasekhar was asked about which party he cast his vote for, he replied, “I gave my vote to those who give funds to my constituency; I voted for my conscience.”

Also Read - Akhilesh Yadav's strong reaction as BJP ally confirms cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections

There has been speculation about Somasekhar joining the Congress, but he did not make any comments on it.

The Congress has fielded three candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections — renominated Syed Naseer Hussain and GC Chandrashekar and Ajay Maken, the AICC treasurer.

The BJP, with 66 MLAs, has given the ticket to Narayana Krishna Bhandage, a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The voting for four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka is underway at Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha and MLAs are voting for the candidates.

The Congress had 135 MLAs but became short of one after Surpur MLA Raja Venkatappa Naik passed away in Bengaluru on Sunday. In the Legislative Assembly, Shivakumar paid condolences to Naik.

The JD(S) and BJP, now electoral allies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, held a joint meeting of the legislators at a private hotel in Bengaluru yesterday.

JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who has fielded party man and business magnate D Kupendra Reddy as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee, exuded confidence at the meeting saying that they would get “conscience votes’’ from “unhappy” Congress MLAs.

Along with Karnataka, polling for Rajyasabha seats is underway at Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh as well. BJP, SP and the Congress party alleged each other of poaching MLAs in order to win the elections.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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