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The BJP Central Disciplinary Committee expelled two of its Karnataka MLAs, ST Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar from the party for a period of six years. The decision comes in the wake of what the party called "repeated violations of party discipline."

In a letter issued by Om Pathak, the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee member secretary, the BJP said it had considered the responses sent by Hebbar and Somashekar to a show-cause notice dated March 25, 2025. The committee, however, found the explanations unsatisfactory and decided to act against them with immediate effect.

Reacting sharply to the expulsion, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar criticised the BJP’s selective disciplinary action.

Somashekar and Hebbar represent Yashwanthpur and Yellapur assembly constituencies respectively.

“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.”

Shivaram Hebbar, meanwhile, maintained that he had always prioritised his constituency and his people over politics.

“My followers have no doubts. They think - our leader has stood by us through both good times and challenges. He has never stepped back when it comes to development, and he never will.”