Bengaluru: Two prominent BJP MLAs, S. T. Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar, were noticeably absent from a significant party meeting that was called by the party’s General Secretary, B. L. Santhosh, on August 31 at the party’s Malleswaram Office in Bengaluru. This development has drawn attention in the political sphere.
Due to this unexpected turn of events, rumours are circulating that these two lawmakers may be considering defecting to the Congress party. The main item on the agenda of the meeting, which was chaired by Santhosh, was planning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The majority of party legislators were present, with only a small number obtaining advance permission to skip the event. However, intriguing rumours have emerged in response to the mysterious absence of Somashekar, Hebbar, and Former MLA M. P. Renukacharya.
Former Members of the Congress, Somashekar and Hebbar, helped B. S. Yediyurappa win the position of Chief Minister in 2019 by leaving the Congress and lending their support to the BJP. Both of these leaders have made suggestions of potential party changes since the BJP’s defeat, attributing their consideration to divisions within the saffron camp.
Despite the vehement denials of any plans to join the Congress by both leaders, recent encounters with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have increased rumours.
Another aspect of the story involves the Former Minister M. P. Renukacharya, who expressed his displeasure with the BJP leadership after being issued a show-cause notice for openly criticising some state officials. In a statement to the press, Renukacharya expressed his reluctance to participate in any party events until the notice is rescinded.
“I have openly addressed the ongoing issues within the party,” he stated bluntly. “Until the notice is withdrawn, I will not go to any party events. The sidelining of Yediyurappa and his son B. Y. Vijayendra, along with the stifling of potential leaders, has become an evident pattern within the party.”
Following the meeting, Karnataka BJP Chief Spokesperson M. G. Mahesh commented on the deliberations. “While all legislators were properly invited to the meeting, a few people chose to abstain without giving reasons,” he admitted. We discussed a range of subjects, including ways to thwart the Congress’s attempts to persuade our party members. There is no doubt that the Congress is using these overtures as a ploy to weaken the BJP’s position.
Some of the other notable meeting no-shows, such as Basavaraj Bommai, Yediyurappa, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and Munirathna, had previously announced their absence.