Bengaluru: Former Karnataka minister and BJP legislator S.T. Somashekhar stirred controversy within his party ranks on Friday by lauding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the Budget presented in the Assembly.
Somashekhar, who joined the BJP via “operation lotus” in 2019 from the Congress, has recently campaigned for a Congress candidate in the MLC election, causing discomfort within the BJP-JD-S alliance. His actions, including a notable distance from BJP activities, have raised eyebrows among party members. Notably, during the assembly session’s inaugural day, while fellow BJP legislators donned saffron shawls, Somashekhar abstained from the display. His close association with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar is widely acknowledged.
Addressing reporters, Yeshwanthpur MLA Somashekhar commended the budget’s focus on Bengaluru’s development, particularly highlighting initiatives concerning drinking water, garbage management, traffic, white topping, and flyover development. Expressing gratitude, he extended congratulations to CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar for their efforts.
In response to objections raised by certain quarters regarding the state budget, Somashekhar adopted a diplomatic stance, refraining from comment and respecting differing viewpoints as personal perspectives.