BJP expels ‘troublemaker' MLAs: Who are S T Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar
A year after being embarrassed multiple times by two of its MLAs, S T Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar over many issues, the BJP on Tuesday finally cracked the whip and expelled the duo from the party for six years for 'anti-party activities'.
Both Somashekar and Hebbar were previously associated with the Congress and were a part of the 14 MLAs who jumped ship to the BJP in 2019, leading to the fall of the H D Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) government.
Here is a look at who the two legislators are:
Somashekar
A three-time MLA from the Yeshwanthpura seat, 66-year-old Somashekar began his political career in the Congress. Previously seen as a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he unsuccessfully contested his first Assembly polls in 2004 from the Uttarahalli seat.
Post-delimitation, Somashekar contested the Yeshwanthpura seat first in 2008 as a Congress candidate and lost. However, five years later, he won the seat as a Congress candidate and retained it in 2018.
He served as the chairman of the Bangalore Development Authority during the one-year Kumaraswamy regime before switching to the BJP with 13 other MLAs.
Somashekar won the 2019 bypoll and was inducted into the B S Yediyurappa Cabinet and retained his berth in the Basavaraj Bommai Cabinet, where he held the important portfolio of Cooperation.
In 2023, he successfully contested the Yeshwanthpura seat, this time as a BJP candidate and won. However, his relationship with the BJP has been rocky ever since. In the Assembly, Somasekhar has extended support to several Bills brought in by the Congress government which his party has vocally opposed.
During the Rajya Sabha polls in February last year, Somashekar embarrassed the BJP yet again by cross-voting in favour of the Congress, triggering speculations that he was on his way back to the grand old party citing 'free flow of funds for his constituency'.
The rumours gained momentum after the Yeshwanthpur MLA was seen on a chartered flight with Deputy CM, D K Shivakumar, with whom he is seen to share a close relationship, leaving political circles abuzz that he could be the Congress's pick for the North Bangalore Lok Sabha seat. However, he lost out to Rajeev Gowda, who lost the seat to BJP's Shobha Karandlaje.
The son of a transport business owner, Somashekar has interests in the real estate and transport industry and has declared assets to the tune of Rs 27 crore in his 2023 election affidavit.
Shivaram Hebbar
Hebbar, 68, is a four-time MLA from the Yellapur seat and has served as the Labour Minister in the Yediyurappa and Bommai Cabinets.
Hailing from a humble background, Hebbar is an areca nut farmer and made his debut in public in 1983 after he was elected as a member of the Yellapura Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) following which he joined the Congress.
After the Yellapur seat came into existence following the 2008 delimitation, Hebbar contested his first Assembly polls that year from the seat but lost to V S Patil of the BJP. However, five years later he won his first Assembly elections from the seat and went on to retain it four consecutive times, including in the 2019 bypoll following his disqualification from the Assembly for defecting to the BJP.
Since his election in 2023 as a BJP candidate, Hebbar has had several run-ins with the party. In the February 2024 Rajya Sabha polls, Hebbar abstained from voting stating he was unwell and could not be present in the Assembly to vote. He also campaigned for the Congress candidate in Uttara Kannada during last year's Lok Sabha polls.
He has declared assets worth Rs 21 crore in his 2023 election affidavit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
32 minutes ago
- Hans India
Bihar CM reviews Ganga revival works at Bakhtiyarpur; stresses on timely completion
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday conducted a detailed inspection of the ongoing development works along the Ganga Ghats from Ghansurpur to Seedhi Ghat in Bakhtiyarpur. Accompanied by Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of efforts aimed at reviving the old stream of the Ganga River. During his visit, CM Nitish Kumar inspected the old staircase at Seedhi Ghat and sought updates on the various works from the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department, Santosh Kumar Mall. He issued firm instructions to the officials to accelerate the pace of the work so it could be completed before the onset of monsoon. 'This work is important for restoring the natural flow of the river and for the convenience of the people visiting the Ghat. It must be completed on time,' the Chief Minister stressed. The project aims to clean the silt and rejuvenate a 4,420-metre stretch of the old Ganga stream from Ghansurpur to Dedoor in Bakhtiyarpur block, Patna district. The project has an administrative approval of Rs 3,427.80 lakh. Geo bag slope pitching is being implemented along 1,520 metres to prevent erosion near densely populated areas like Ghansurpur, Karauta, and Hatia. The officials informed the Chief Minister that provisions have also been made for three years of channel maintenance to ensure consistent water flow. A second component of the project focusses specifically on Seedhi Ghat, with an estimated cost of Rs 56.06 crore. The work includes 330-metres of staircase construction, 2,100-metres of erosion protection and pathway development 1,100 metres upstream, 1,000 metres downstream, toilet facilities, landscaping, and lighting installations, and acquisition for a connecting path near Seedhi Ghat temple and JMT school. The target completion date for this phase of the project is June 2025. The Chief Minister also offered prayers at Shri Radhe Krishna Temple at Seedhi Ghat, praying for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of Bihar. He later paid homage to freedom fighter and former MP Pandit Sheelbhadra Yajee and his wife Balkeshwari Yajee by offering floral tributes at their samadhi sthal.
Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
In Madurai, the BJP's pitch to win Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu's assembly elections are due only in April next year. However, the BJP has already sounded the poll bugle. Union home minister Amit Shah addressed a public meeting in Madurai on Sunday, where he accused the ruling DMK of running a corrupt government. He also flagged Operation Sindoor and reminded the audience that Prime Minister Modi had installed the sengol (sceptre) at the new Parliament premises. With an alliance with the AIADMK, the chief opposition party, almost in place, the BJP seems to have readied its arsenal to launch a poll battle in Tamil Nadu. That Shah chose to launch the BJP's campaign in Madurai is not at all surprising. Madurai is both the state's cultural capital and the gateway to southern Tamil Nadu, a region where the BJP has made significant inroads since the 1980s. But can the BJP translate these gains into electoral wins? Shah's speech suggests that the party is likely to rely on nationalism, corruption allegations and faith to tide over the formidable political alliance that the DMK leads. In recent years, the DMK has doubled down on its Dravidian legacy, also in a bid to corner the BJP on charges of promoting a Hindi-Hindu nationalism, which it claims is against the political and cultural ethos of Tamil Nadu. The BJP has also embraced local symbols (sengol, for instance) and faith traditions to appeal to the faithful in the state. Shah pointedly spoke about the Murugan conference that Madurai is set to host later this month. Five years ago, the party had held a Vel (spear) Yatra to appeal to followers of this popular Tamil deity. Considering the competitive nature of Tamil politics, with multiple fronts likely to be in the fray, any incremental gains in vote share can make a difference to the outcome. The BJP is aware of it.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
U.S. Influence on India's Foreign Policy Questioned: CPM Telangana Secretary John Wesley Calls for United Secular Front Against Communal Politics
Gadwal: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Telangana State Secretary John Wesley raised serious concerns about growing American influence over India's foreign policy during a district-wide extended meeting of the CPM held on Monday at Anantha Convention Hall in the district headquarters. The event was presided over by district committee member G. Raju and witnessed participation from numerous party leaders and activists. Addressing the gathering, John Wesley questioned the central government's silence on former U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that it was his intervention that stopped a potential war between India and Pakistan. 'What is the nature of America's dominance in India's foreign policy?' he asked, demanding a clear response from the Modi-led central government. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for boasting about India surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, while failing to address the growing economic and social disparities within the country. 'If 80% of the country's wealth is in the hands of just 20% of corporate forces and capitalists, the rest—India's poor—are still struggling for food, shelter, and clothing,' Wesley lamented. He further alleged that during the 11 years of BJP rule, there has been a sharp increase in attacks and atrocities against the marginalized and backward communities. He accused the BJP of sowing division and hatred among people to benefit from vote-bank politics, and emphasized the need for all secular and democratic forces to unite against the rise of communal forces in the country. Wesley reiterated that wars are not solutions to problems and urged people to reflect on the deteriorating conditions in war-torn nations around the world. He encouraged youth to avoid being swayed by emotions and instead analyze the root causes of national and global issues. In regard to the Telangana government, he criticized its failure to implement promises made to the people, blaming economic excuses for policy backtracking. He described this as unacceptable, especially when the poor and marginalized are left behind. In a strong statement against caste-based dominance, Wesley called upon marginalized communities in Jogulamba Gadwal district to unite and overthrow the upper-caste feudal political forces, who continue to exploit the poor either directly or indirectly. Symbolic Bike Rally and Tributes Prior to the meeting, a bike rally was held starting from Jammiched, passing through town streets, and culminating at Ambedkar Chowk. Floral tributes were offered to the statues of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule, reinforcing the CPM's commitment to social justice and equality. The event also served as an opportunity for leaders from other political parties and representatives of various social and public organizations in Gadwal town to meet John Wesley, honor him ceremonially, and submit memoranda regarding various public issues affecting the district. Party Leaders in Attendance The event was marked by the presence of several prominent CPM leaders including: R. Sriram Naik (State Committee Member) A. Venkataswamy (District Secretary) Repalle Devadas, Paranjyoti, V.V. Narasimha, Maddileti, Upper Narasimha, Narmada, Eidanna, and Ramesh (District Committee Members) Local mandal-level leaders, activists, and supporters attended in large numbers, reflecting strong grassroots support for the party in the region.
