Bengaluru: The BJP's Central Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday expelled Karnataka MLAs S.T. Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar from the party for six years.
The decision follows their alignment with Congress leaders and public criticism of the BJP and its leadership.
Somashekar, who represents the Yeshwanthpur constituency in Bengaluru, and Hebbar, the MLA from Yellapur in Karwar district, were originally Congress members. They joined the BJP in 2019 through ‘Operation Lotus’ and later served as ministers in the BJP government.
Somashekar had openly expressed his allegiance to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, describing him as his "godfather in politics. During the Rajya Sabha elections held in February 2024, Somashekar cross-voted while Hebbar abstained from voting.
After the cross-voting, Somashekar told reporters that he had voted according to his conscience. "I went by my conscience and voted for those who worked to build schools and carry out development works in my constituency," he had stated.
Both MLAs had embarrassed the BJP by refusing to join party walkouts in the Assembly and openly criticising the state leadership.
In a statement, Central Disciplinary Committee Member Secretary Om Pathak noted that the committee had reviewed their responses to the show-cause notices issued on March 25 and had taken serious note of their repeated breaches of party discipline.
"It has accordingly been decided to expel you for a period of six years with immediate effect from the primary membership of the party, and you stand removed from any position you currently hold," the MLAs were informed, as per the statement.
The BJP faced embarrassment in 2022 when Kommaghatta Road, located in MLA S.T. Somashekar’s constituency, deteriorated just days after being relaid ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru. The newly paved road chipped off in several places, prompting Somashekar—then a state minister—to attribute the poor quality to the short notice given by the Prime Minister’s Special Protection Group (SPG). The road was used twice by the PM during his commute between Kommaghatta and Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) University.
Earlier, the BJP had expelled senior party MLA and Hindutva leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for six years after he made derogatory remarks against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra.
(inputs from IANS)