BJP Expels MLAs ST Somashekar, A Shivaram Hebbar For Six Years Over 'Repeated Violations'

The Central Disciplinary Committee of BJP has decided to expel senior Karnataka MLAs ST Somashekar, A Shivaram Hebbar after taking serious note of their "repeated violations of party discipline".

The letter also said that the MLAs stand removed from any party position they currently hold.

Source : Facebook

In a major disciplinary action, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday expelled senior Karnataka MLAs ST Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar from the party for a period of six years, citing repeated violations of party discipline. Both the leaders who were from the Congress moved to BJP during 'Operation Lotus'.

In an official letter issued by Om Pathak, Member Secretary of the BJP’s Central Disciplinary Committee, said: "The Central Disciplinary Committee of the party has considered your response to the show cause notice dated 25th March 2025 and has taken serious note of your repeated violations 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. You also stand removed from any party position that you hold as of now."

The BJP Central Disciplinary Committee has expelled MLAs ST Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar from the BJP for a period of six years. pic.twitter.com/O7OeeO4M9A

— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2025

The move comes after both lawmakers defied the party line — voting against the BJP’s official candidate during the recent Rajya Sabha elections and campaigning for Congress candidates in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Somashekar, representing the Yeshwanthpur Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, and MLA Hebbar, from Yellapur in Karwar district, were originally members of Congress before switching to the BJP in 2019 as part of 'Operation Lotus'. Following their defection, they served as ministers in the BJP government.

Despite his affiliation with the BJP, Somashekar openly expressed his political allegiance to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, even referring to him as his "godfather in politics", as per a report on IANS. This sentiment was reflected in his cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections in February 2024, a move that Hebbar abstained from altogether.