Here's why Karnataka BJP expelled MLAs ST Somashekhar and Shivaram Hebbar

Two BJP MLAs in Karnataka, ST Somashekhar (Yeshwantpur) and Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur) were expelled from the party on Thursday for “repeated violations” of the party discipline by the BJP’s central disciplinary committee.

“The committee has considered your response to the show-cause notice issued on March 25, 2025 and has taken serious note of your repeated violations of the party discipline. Accordingly, it has been decided to expel you for a period of six years from the primary membership of the party and you stand removed from any party position that you currently hold,” said the expulsion notice issued by Om Pathak, member secretary of the Committee.

The committee had issued show-cause notices to five of its leaders, MLAs ST Somashekar, Shivaram Hebbar, B.P. Harish and two former ministers MP Renukacharya and Katta Subramanya Naidu, for anti-party activities. The constant tussle between BJP state chief BY Vijayendra and the rebel faction led by Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had led to the latter’s expulsion from the party.

The expulsion of Somashekhar and Hebbar is a fallout of the two legislators distancing themselves from the BJP and cosying up to the Congress government. The senior legislators were earlier with the Congress party and are among the 17 Congress-JDS rebels who had quit their parties, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July 2019. Both Somashekhar and Hebbar had won back their seats in the bypolls that followed, on a BJP ticket and were ministers in the Yediyurappa government.

The two leaders got elected for the fourth time in 2023, but grew distant from the BJP citing hostility from local leaders. They were not only conspicuous by their absence at the party meetings and rallies, but their presence in the Congress party’s dinner meetings and government events. In the Rajya Sabha polls held last year, Somashekhar had cast a “vote of conscience” against the official JDS-BJP alliance candidate – D Kupendra Reddy, while Hebbar had abstained from voting leading to Reddy’s defeat. Hebbar’s son Vivek joining the Congress party last year led to speculations over the father too following suit.

Hebbar said, “It was expected. I had my reasons to keep a distance from the state BJP which I will reveal at an appropriate time. I have observed who all have spoken against the party and what action has the party taken against them. This does not augur well for a national party.”

Expressing his disgruntlement over the party high command not “heeding” to his grievances, Hebbar said, “If your own party tries to defeat you in the elections, it is no small matter. I cannot ignore it. I have brought it to the attention of senior leaders but no action was taken. Only the leadership in the state changed (from Kateel to Vijayendra). Our issues remained unresolved. I understand Yediyurappa alone cannot do anything (in our favour). The central committee has expelled us today. So, our issues had to be addressed by the central leadership,” rued Hebbar.

Somashekhar welcomed the party’s decision (to expel) and said, “I welcome it. But let me clarify that I haven’t done anything that went against the party. I met the Congress ministers and attended only the government events. Also, the Rajya Sabha voting is not illegal. The party cannot issue a whip. It was not a secret ballot and we were free to cast a vote of conscience. That is why they did not expel me earlier.”

Somashekhar also asserted that he was “originally” a Congressman who had quit the party due to some differences after the Congress had joined hands with the JDS. “I joined the BJP. I have never spoken against any BJP leader. I have not indulged in any anti-party activities. I did meet the CM and DCM to ensure funds for my constituency. Nobody in the BJP has opposed my expulsion. I welcome the expulsion,” he added.

Vijayendra welcomed the Committee’s decision and said, “The MLAs have been expelled for indulging in anti-party activities. This issue had been discussed in the state core committee too and we had urged the central leadership to take action. Both the legislators are aware of what they have done and so is the high command. They both had enjoyed power when BJP came to power. Now, they might be finding it difficult to sit in the opposition benches.”

The saffron party which had won 66 seats (out of 224 ) in the May 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls has been reduced to 62 seats with the latest expulsion. Earlier, the BJP had lost the Shiggaon seat held by former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai in the bypolls necessitated by Bommai’s election to the Parliament from Haveri. This was followed by the expulsion of rebel BJP leader and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and now two more legislators. The party is on a “clean up” mission as infighting and indiscipline within the party has been weighing down the party. The party workers and veterans too were unhappy with the party being perceived as compromising on its core values, say insiders.