Karnataka: No plans to join Congress, says BJP MLA ST Somashekhar
Bengaluru: In a candid response, BJP legislator ST Somashekhar has quashed rumors of his potential move to the Congress party. He asserted that while he has no intentions of crossing party lines, some members of his own party have exhibited a desire to facilitate his shift to Congress.
Speaking with reporters in the city, the Yeshwantpur MLA openly addressed the recent speculations surrounding his political allegiance. Somashekhar clarified, "I have never expressed any inclination to join the Congress, not even in my private conversations with my BJP colleagues. I remain content and have no feelings of dissatisfaction with the BJP leadership. Moreover, I have refrained from engaging in political discussions with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar."
ALSO READ: Threats to 15 writers, philosophers in Karnataka: Home Minister orders DG&IGP to provide protection
Somashekhar further emphasized, "My words of appreciation for DK Shivakumar have garnered attention from numerous BJP activists on social media. This subsequent online discourse led local BJP workers to criticize me. A video calling for my resignation from the party has also circulated widely. It appears that some members within my own party are keen on my exit from the BJP."
The legislator went on to clarify the interactions he has had with senior party figures. He stated, "Party leaders Nalin Kumar Kateel and CT Ravi have contacted me via phone, and DV Sadananda Gowda discussed the matter at his residence. I have unequivocally conveyed to all of them that I am not considering a move to the Congress."
Rumors regarding Somashekhar's potential party switch began circulating after a meeting between Congress MLA N Srinivas and the BJP legislator at his office in Nelamangala.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
