In a significant political development in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 27 May 2025 expelled two sitting MLAs — S T Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar — for a duration of six years, citing "anti-party activities" as the core reason behind the expulsion. The decision has come after multiple violations of party discipline were recorded and discussed at the highest levels of the party hierarchy. The announcement was made by B Y Vijayendra, the state president of the BJP in Karnataka.

Background and Political Context

S T Somashekar, the legislator representing the Yashwanthpur Assembly constituency, and A Shivaram Hebbar, the elected representative from Yellapur, have both been under the scanner for actions that the BJP terms as detrimental to the party’s internal cohesion and electoral strategy.

Their most visible and recent deviation from party lines came during the Rajya Sabha elections in March 2024. S T Somashekar cross-voted in favour of the Congress candidate Ajay Maken, despite a party whip instructing all BJP MLAs to support the party's nominee. A Shivaram Hebbar, on the other hand, abstained from voting entirely, further fuelling speculation about growing dissent within the party ranks.

These incidents were seen as direct challenges to the BJP's disciplinary structure, especially coming at a time when the party has been battling internal factionalism and electoral pressure in southern India.

Official Expulsion Letters Cite 'Repeated Violations'

An official expulsion letter addressed to A Shivaram Hebbar by Om Pathak, the Member Secretary of the BJP’s Central Disciplinary Committee, noted that the committee had carefully reviewed the response submitted by the MLA to a show-cause notice issued on 25 March 2025. The letter explicitly states that the response was unsatisfactory, and that repeated violations of party discipline were serious enough to merit immediate expulsion.

The same was echoed in the case of S T Somashekar. While no official letter for him was made public, party insiders confirmed that his expulsion was decided based on similar grounds, with both MLAs now barred from party activities and candidature for the next six years.

Political Reactions

While the BJP has remained firm on its disciplinary stand, the move triggered immediate political responses, especially from the opposition.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, a senior Congress leader, lashed out at the BJP for selectively targeting leaders while turning a blind eye to serious accusations against other members within its fold. In a fiery statement, he said:

“No, ST Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar haven’t raped anyone in the Vidhana Soudha. There are so many FIRs, so many investigations have taken place. Some legislators tried to inject the Opposition leader with an AIDS injection, others tried to trap Yediyurappa ji. But no action has been taken against them. I’m happy they’re keeping all those ‘Navaratnas’ in their party.”

His comments clearly hinted at what the Congress perceives as hypocrisy within the BJP's internal justice mechanisms, accusing the party of double standards.

Silence from the Expelled MLAs

As of now, neither S T Somashekar nor A Shivaram Hebbar has issued a public statement in response to the expulsion. Party insiders believe that both MLAs had anticipated this decision ever since the March 2024 Rajya Sabha election incident and had been preparing for potential disciplinary outcomes.

History of Dissent

Both expelled leaders have a history of shifting loyalties and have at times shown affinity towards Congress ideology, especially Somashekar, who was once a close aide of DK Shivakumar before switching over to the BJP during the political realignments that occurred in 2019.

Their recent political conduct was seen as part of an emerging pattern, where some BJP leaders were either softening their stance towards Congress or were in active contact with opposition members, thus posing a threat to party unity, especially ahead of the upcoming 2025 Karnataka Panchayat elections and 2026 Assembly elections.

Larger Implications for BJP in Karnataka

The expulsions reflect a tightening of internal discipline within the BJP, especially under the leadership of B Y Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. The move appears calculated to send a strong message to dissenters and fence-sitters within the party.

However, the timing of the expulsions also invites scrutiny, as it comes amid intensifying political competition in Karnataka, where the Congress is trying to regain dominance, and BJP is attempting to consolidate its voter base in southern strongholds.

These developments may also influence coalition dynamics, should either of the expelled MLAs decide to form independent fronts, support opposition parties, or join Congress formally in the near future.

BJP's Selective Accountability Questioned

Despite the firmness of the party's actions in this case, critics argue that BJP has not acted uniformly in similar situations involving other high-profile leaders, particularly those accused of more severe criminal misconduct.

The Deputy CM’s mention of unpunished criminal cases and intra-party conspiracies within BJP points to ongoing tensions and a potentially widening ideological and operational divide inside the party ranks.

Possible Next Steps for Expelled MLAs

If history is any indicator, expelled leaders often explore alternative political alignments or seek re-entry through compromise, particularly if they retain their base support. In this case:

• S T Somashekar, with a strong foothold in urban Bengaluru politics, may attempt to reconnect with Congress, especially given his past proximity to Shivakumar.

• A Shivaram Hebbar, who enjoys localised influence in coastal Karnataka, may either go independent or align with regional power blocs.

Both leaders, despite their expulsion, retain their MLA status, unless disqualified through other legislative means.

Conclusion

The six-year expulsion of Karnataka MLAs S T Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar by the BJP marks a pivotal disciplinary moment in Karnataka politics. It underlines the party’s intent to enforce internal discipline while simultaneously exposing the underlying factional tensions that plague its southern units. The political fallout of this move could influence voter perceptions, candidate selection strategies, and party dynamics in the run-up to major state and national elections.

As the BJP doubles down on loyalty and order, it must now contend with questions of fairness, consistency, and future strategy, particularly in a state as politically fluid and electorally significant as Karnataka.

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