BJP suffers setback as two MLAs betray party candidate in RS polls in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Feb 27: In a setback to the BJP-JD(S) alliance, saffron party MLA S T Somashekar voted for Congress candidate Ajay Maken while another MLA Arbail Shivaram Hebbar abstained from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections for four seats in Karnataka on Tuesday.
Somashekar and Hebbar, who are upset with the BJP, were seen getting closer with the Congress in recent months.
Somashekar represents Yashwantpur assembly constituency and Hebbar from Yellapur segment.
"We have got the information that Somashekar has done cross-voting. I believe that people do not like cheating every now and then," the Leader of Opposition R Ashoka told reporters here.
"I consulted with advocate Vivek Reddy who is our state legal cell president and a high court lawyer. We will ask the Speaker to initiate action against him (Somashekar) and explore the possibilities to take steps in accordance with the law," the former deputy chief minister said.
ALSO READ: BJP confirms cross-voting by S T Somashekar during RS polls in Karnataka
Somashekar had quit the Congress and joined the BJP. He served as the minister (in the BJP government) and was made the Mysuru district in charge.
Ashoka termed Somashekar's decision as "political suicide".
Soon after voting, Somashekar told reporters that he voted as per his conscience.
"I went by my conscience and voted for those who worked for building schools and carry out development works in my constituency," the rebel BJP leader said.
Ashoka said Hebbar was in touch with him since morning and assured him that he would vote for the BJP candidate.
"Hebbar had been telling me that he would not betray the party, but I don't know why he did not turn up to vote. He double-crossed us today, which he should not have done. We will initiate action against him," Ashoka said.
Both the MLAs had defected from Congress to the BJP along with 15 others, bringing down the 14-month-old coalition government of the Congress and the JD(S) in 2019 facilitating the installation of the BJP government.
In 2023, they once again got elected to the assembly on the BJP ticket.
The BJP and JD(S) workers staged a demonstration in Bengaluru against Somashekar. Raising slogans, they burnt his effigy.
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Man lynched over revenge killing in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi; 18 arrested
Mumbai (PTI): Reserve Bank on Wednesday cut India's growth forecast to 6.5 per cent from 6.7 per cent estimated earlier for the current financial year on account of impact of global trade and policy uncertainties.
Prospects of agriculture sector remain bright on the back of healthy reservoir levels and robust crop production in 2025-26, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said while unveiling the outcome of the first bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting for the current financial year.
Manufacturing activity is showing signs of revival with business expectations remaining robust, while services sector activity continues to be resilient, he said.
Investment activity has gained traction and it is expected to improve further on the back of sustained higher capacity utilisation, government's continued thrust on infrastructure spending, healthy balance sheets of banks and corporates, along with the easing of financial conditions, he said.
"Merchandise exports will be weighed down by global uncertainties, while services exports are expected to remain resilient. Headwinds from global trade disruptions continue to pose downward risks," he said.
Taking all these factors into consideration, he said, real GDP growth for 2025-26 is now projected at 6.5 per cent, with Q1 at 6.5 per cent; Q2 at 6.7 per cent; Q3 at 6.6 per cent; and Q4 at 6.3 per cent.
"While the risks are evenly balanced around these baseline projections, uncertainties remain high in the wake of the recent spike in global volatility. It may be noted that the growth projection for the current year has been marked down by 20 basis points relative to our earlier assessment of 6.7 per cent in the February policy," he said.
This downward revision essentially reflects the impact of global trade and policy uncertainties, he said.
