No business or any other links with D.K. Shivakumar, own partymen spreading rumours: BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra

Published 26 June 2026 · local

Denying business or any other links with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, BJP’s Karnataka unit President B.Y. Vijayendra said his own party colleagues have spread “false

Denying business or any other links with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, BJP’s Karnataka unit President B.Y. Vijayendra said his own party colleagues have spread “false information.” “If I had links with Mr. Shivakumar, I would be as guilty as some of our MLAs, who have cross-voted in the MLC elections and working against the party,” he told reporters in Dharmasthala on June 26. “I categorically deny business or any other links with D.K. Shivakumar. The respect that I have given to Mr. Shivakumar is the one given to fellow head of the State unit of a party. I know some of my own party colleagues have spread this information (about his alleged links with Mr. Shivakumar). I have prayed for the well-being of those persons,” he said stating that he was speaking frankly after having darshan of Lord Manjunatha and clarifying about the rumours following cross-voting.

Though voting in the MLC elections was through secret ballet, in the coming days, truth will come out to reveal who among BJP legislators cross-voted, he said. In the recent Council elections, the ruling Congress won five of the seven seats, while the BJP secured two and JD(S) drew a blank. Cross-voting by some BJP and JD(S) legislators helped Congress secure 11 more than the expected, leaving the BJP redfaced. The saffron party’s central leaders have pulled up State leaders on this issue. ‘Up to party high command’ “I have left it to the party high command to take action. I was among the party workers who were hurt following cross-voting. I proposed a meeting of party legislators in Dharmasthala. On the advise of party seniors, I left the issue to the party high command,” he said.

Vijayendra said he met party leaders in New Delhi over three days, and directly came to Dharmasthala on June 25 night. He has prayed for better rains across Karnataka, and to give him strength to steer the party back to power in the State”. He will return to Bengaluru and speak with MLC C.T. Ravi, who heads the party’s committee looking into cross-voting. On the statement by former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda that he had hinted of cross-voting, but no action was taken, Mr. Vijayendra said he spoke to the party’s State general secretary, who said that information provided by Mr. Gowda was general in nature. On Eshwarappa On the statement of K.S. Eshwarappa regarding cross-voting, Mr. Vijayendra said he will not react as Mr. Eshwarappa is no longer associated with the party.