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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Bangladesh's interim govt revokes ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's passport
Dhaka, Jan 7: Bangladesh's interim government on Tuesday said it has revoked the passport of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 96 others over their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and the July killings.
Hasina, 77, has been living in India since August 5 last year when she fled Bangladesh following a massive student-led protest that toppled her Awami League's (AL) 16-year regime.
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”.
Addressing a press briefing here, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said, "The Passports Department cancelled passports of 22 people involved in enforced disappearances, while passports of 75 people, including Sheikh Hasina, were revoked due to their involvement in the July killings.”
He, however, did not reveal the names of the remaining individuals whose passports were cancelled, the state-run BSS news agency reported.
