BJP Expels Karnataka MLAs S T Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar

Bengaluru, May 27 (PTI) — In a significant development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled Karnataka MLAs S T Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar for a period of six years, citing "anti-party activities." This decision was announced by the party's state president, B Y Vijayendra, following extensive deliberations by the party's high command. The action has drawn criticism from Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief, D K Shivakumar.

Somashekar and Hebbar, who serve as representatives of the Yashwanthpur and Yellapur assembly constituencies respectively, were formerly members of the Congress party. They made headlines in 2019 as part of a group of 18 Congress and JD(S) MLAs who were instrumental in toppling the Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy, a move that helped the BJP to assume power in Karnataka under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa. Disqualified for their actions at the time, they subsequently joined the BJP.

The MLAs secured their seats again in the 2023 Assembly elections on BJP tickets but reportedly began getting closer to the Congress. According to party insiders, both Somashekar and Hebbar frequently ignored party instructions and ceased attending BJP meetings, and in the Karnataka Assembly, their support for the ruling Congress was evident.

BJP state chief Vijayendra noted that the expelled MLAs were given considerable opportunity to mend their ways but failed to heed multiple warnings. He stated that the matter of their activities had frequently been discussed in state core committee meetings, with the Central leadership also aware of the situation and insisting on disciplinary action.

The expelled MLAs have not yet commented on their removal. In a formal letter from Om Pathak, the member secretary of the BJP's central disciplinary committee, it was mentioned that serious note had been taken of their repeated violations of party discipline following the issuance of a show cause notice dated March 25, 2025. The decision was made to expel them with immediate effect, stripping them of their primary membership and any current party positions.

D K Shivakumar voiced strong opposition to the expulsion, stating, "S T Somashekar and Hebbar have not committed any crime inside the Vidhana Soudha." He highlighted that there are FIRs and investigations proceeding against some legislators, alleged attempts by BJP legislators to harm the leader of the opposition, and efforts to undermine former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, yet no action had been taken in those cases. This development increases the tally of BJP MLAs expelled from the state to three, with Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal having earlier faced expulsion for his open critique of Yediyurappa and his son B Y Vijayendra.

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