Karnataka BJP MLA Votes for Congress in Rajya Sabha Polls

Bengaluru: Former minister and present BJP MLA S.T. Somashekar reportedly voted for the Congress candidate in the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Somashekar, the BJP MLA of Yeshwanthpur seat in Bengaluru said on Tuesday, “I have cast my vote for those who promised. My vote has gone to those who have given assurances to me.”

When asked by newsmen, whether he voted for the Congress, he hurriedly left the Vidhana Soudha.

Sources confirmed that Somashekar voted for the Congress party candidate G.C. Chandrashekar.

Sources in the BJP confirmed the cross-voting by Somashekar. The polling agents, BJP MLAs Arvind Bellad and V. Sunil Kumar, had conveyed the message to the Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and state President B.Y. Vijayendra.

The BJP party is now contemplating stringent action against Somashekar.

Somashekar had joined the BJP in 2019 and was made a cabinet minister. After the Assembly elections in 2023, Somashekar maintained a distance from the BJP.