BJP MLA H K Suresh Demands Narco Tests For Legislators At Dharmasthala

On Tuesday, Legislative Assembly member H K Suresh visited the temple town of Dharmasthala to deny allegations of cross-voting in the recent MLC elections and demanded that the party conduct narco-analysis tests on its legislators. The dramatic appeal by the Belur MLA highlights the widening rift and mutual suspicion within the state unit of the BJP following recent electoral indiscipline.

Speaking to reporters in Dharmasthala, Suresh volunteered to be the first to undergo the test to prove his loyalty, stating, "I will volunteer first for the test." His visit to the temple town occurred on the day the party had initially planned to hold a legislature party meeting there to address the cross-voting issue, though the meeting was ultimately called off.

The MLA's demand came shortly after a three-member committee, headed by BJP MLC C T Ravi, submitted its investigative report on the MLC polls to state BJP president B Y Vijayendra. However, party insiders revealed that the report has failed to resolve the internal crisis. While the document lists several suspects, it does not definitively identify which MLAs defied the party diktat.

The controversy is part of a broader wave of factionalism that has hit the Karnataka BJP over the past two weeks. Adding to the tension, a leaked audio clip surfaced earlier this week, purportedly featuring former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. In the recording, a voice attributed to Gowda advises a national leader to "kick out" Vijayendra once his three-year term ends, adding that if the state president was "replaced by a good man, everything will go smoothly." Gowda has since denied that the voice in the recording belongs to him.

Speculation has arisen within the party that the cross-voting was intentionally engineered to weaken Vijayendra's leadership. A faction of legislators has opposed Vijayendra, the son of BJP veteran B S Yediyurappa, since he assumed the state presidency. While expelled leaders like Kumar Bangarappa and Basangouda Patil Yatnal have openly demanded Vijayendra’s removal, Yediyurappa loyalists continue to defend him.

The party’s image was also recently affected by a public dispute between MP K Sudhakar and MLA S R Vishwanath over organizing parallel Kempegowda Jayanthi celebrations, though the two leaders have since settled their differences.

Amid the ongoing instability, discussions have begun regarding a leadership change before the 2028 Assembly elections. Union Minister of State V Somanna has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Vijayendra. When asked about the possibility, Somanna stated he is a disciplined worker and said, "I will do what the party national leadership asks me to."