The Chief Whip of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has taken action by issuing show cause notices to both MLA ST Somashekar and MLA Shivram Hebbar. Somashekar has been cited for his act of cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, aligning with the Congress party, whereas Hebbar received notice for abstaining from the voting process that took place on February 27.
The repercussions of Somashekar's cross-voting were particularly significant, as it led to the Congress securing three Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka, while the BJP managed to clinch only one. Somashekar's deviation from the party line by supporting the Congress candidate, Ajay Maken, despite the issuance of a whip, dealt a substantial blow to the BJP's electoral prospects.
There have been indications of discontent within the ranks, with Somashekar and Hebbar reportedly expressing dissatisfaction with the leadership of the BJP. Over recent months, both legislators have shown inclinations towards the Congress, marking a notable shift in their political affiliations. Somashekar represents the Yashwantpur assembly constituency, while Hebbar serves the Yellapur segment.
Following the voting, Somashekar defended his actions, asserting that his decision was guided by his conscience. He emphasized that his vote was cast in favor of those individuals who had contributed to the development initiatives within his constituency, underlining his stance as a dissenting BJP member.
Both Somashekar and Hebbar had previously switched allegiance from the Congress to the BJP, alongside 15 other legislators, in 2019. This move precipitated the collapse of the 14-month-long coalition government comprising the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).
In the Rajya Sabha elections, Congress candidates Ajay Maken, Nasser Hussain, and GC Chandrashekar emerged victorious with 47, 47, and 45 votes, respectively. Meanwhile, the BJP's Narayanasa Bhandage also secured a seat in the Upper House.
The election process witnessed a high turnout of 99.5 percent, with 222 out of a total of 223 eligible voters exercising their franchise.
