Published Jun 26, 2026 | 4:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 26, 2026 | 4:11 PM
BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra.
Synopsis: Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra has denied allegations of having any personal or business ties with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and rejected claims that he played any role in the cross-voting by BJP legislators during the recent Karnataka Legislative Council elections. He said the cross-voting had caused “immense pain” to him and BJP workers, and asserted that those responsible for betraying the party would not be spared.
Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Friday (26 June) rejected allegations of having any business or personal relationship with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, asserting that he had no role in the cross-voting by BJP legislators during the recent Karnataka Legislative Council elections.
Addressing a press conference at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district, Vijayendra said the cross-voting had caused “immense pain” to him and lakhs of BJP workers, and dismissed allegations that he had colluded with the Congress.
“When the cross-voting happened, allegations began circulating that because of the cordial relationship between state BJP president Vijayendra and the Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar—because of the closeness between DK Shivakumar and Vijayendra—I had somehow enabled the cross-voting,” he said.
“There is no business relationship whatsoever between Vijayendra and DK Shivakumar. There is no personal closeness of any kind between us. I have given him the respect due to the KPCC president. As an MLA, I must also give the respect due to the Chief Minister of the state. Other than that, there is no personal closeness or business relationship between us. I want to make that clear again and again.”
Vijayendra said he was aware that “our own people” had contributed to the speculation.
The controversy follows the biennial Karnataka Legislative Council elections held on 18 June, in which the ruling Congress won five of the seven seats, aided by two cross-votes from BJP legislators and four from the JD(S). The BJP secured the remaining two seats, giving the Congress a majority in the 75-member Legislative Council.
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In the immediate aftermath of the elections, Vijayendra said he had proposed convening a meeting of the BJP Legislature Party at Dharmasthala to establish the truth.
“The day after the election results, when my mind was deeply hurt, I had indeed said that the legislature party meeting should be held at Dharmasthala, and that, in the divine presence, the truth and falsehood should be ascertained. I too am an emotional person. Whatever comes to my mind, I say it.”
However, he said senior party leaders advised against the move.
“But on the advice of the party’s senior leaders—’No, Vijayendra, we should not take it in that direction. Let us bring it to the notice of the high command. If not today, tomorrow the truth will become known. We should not pursue it further’—I respected their advice,” he said.
Instead, he said, he visited Dharmasthala as a devotee to offer prayers.
Vijayendra said he was speaking “from a position of responsibility” while standing in a sacred place.
He added that he had prayed those spreading “false propaganda” would eventually be exposed.
“Whatever the secret voting may have been, if not today then tomorrow the truth will certainly become known. Our own government is in power at the Centre. They are also gathering all the information. Whoever has acted in a manner that betrays the party cannot be let off in this matter. They have taken it very seriously.”
