Congress emerged victorious in the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka, clinching three seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure only one seat. The BJP’s setback came as one of its MLAs cross-voted in favor of Congress, signaling a shift in political dynamics within the southern state.

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Congress candidates Ajay Maken, Nasser Hussain, and GC Chandrashekar secured 47, 47, and 45 votes, respectively, earning them the opportunity to represent the party in the Rajya Sabha. On the other hand, Narayanasa Bhandage from the BJP was the lone candidate elected to the Upper House.

The BJP’s setback was amplified as its MLA ST Somashekar voted for Congress candidate Ajay Maken, while another MLA, Arbail Shivaram Hebbar, chose to abstain from voting. Both Somashekar and Hebbar, who had switched allegiance from the Congress to the BJP in 2019, had been expressing dissatisfaction with the party leadership and were observed aligning themselves with Congress in recent months.

Source: Hindustan Times

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar commented on the results, emphasizing the unity and integrity of the Congress. He expressed gratitude towards the MLAs, party workers, and the media, noting the success of all Congress candidates. The high voter turnout, with 99.5 percent of the 223 voters exercising their franchise, highlighted the significance of the Rajya Sabha elections in the state.

The rebel BJP leader, ST Somashekar, explained his vote by stating that he followed his conscience, supporting those who had worked towards building schools and carrying out development activities in his constituency. This move by Somashekar and Hebbar, who represent Yeshwantpur and Yellapur constituencies respectively, indicated a growing proximity with the Congress, marking a departure from their earlier alignment with the BJP.

Source: DH

The voting process saw five candidates competing for the four available seats, with JD(S) contestant D Kupendra Reddy also in the fray. The defection of Somashekar and Hebbar, who had previously switched allegiance from Congress to BJP along with 15 others in 2019, played a pivotal role in the collapse of the 14-month-old coalition government of Congress and JD(S).