<p>Karwar (Karnataka): BJP MLA Arabail Shivaram Hebbar on Wednesday cited health issues as the grounds for abstaining from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections.</p><p>He said there was no link between his abstention and his disgruntlement with the district unit of the party.</p><p>The Yellapur MLA did not turn up for the voting despite a party whip, while Yeshwanthpur MLA S T Somashekhar voted in favour of Congress in the name of "conscience", during the polls to four seats of Rajya Sabha from Karnataka on Tuesday, in an embarrassment to the BJP.</p>.<p>Somashekhar on Wednesday participated in the Assembly session, and was seen in his designated seat on the opposition side, among other BJP MLAs.</p><p>Both Somashekhar and Hebbar were earlier in the Congress. They were among <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/rebel-congress-jds-legislators">17 Congress-JD(S) legislators</a>, who had quit from their parties, which ultimately led to the collapse of H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July, 2019. </p><p>They had subsequently won the bypolls on BJP ticket and served as Ministers in the previous saffron party government.</p>.<p>"My health was not good in the morning (on Tuesday), I had planned to go (for voting), on Doctor's advice after 6 PM I had to come back, for this reason I could not vote. Nothing else. I could have gone for voting and could have done cross voting or could have come without voting for anyone," Hebbar said in response to a question.</p><p>Speaking to reporters here, he said, he was not a person who would abstain from voting out of any fear, and has been in politics for four decades.</p><p>"I was told by my personal assistant the whip was issued to me after 1 PM (on Tuesday). When the whip should be issued, how... law will take its course," he further said.</p>.'Legal action against Hebbar, Somashekhar for violating whip': BJP.<p>Hebbar said, there was no "relationship" between him abstaining from voting and his unhappiness with the party, and there are forums to express disgruntlement.</p><p>Asked whether he was giving any warning to the party by abstaining, he said, "I have not given any warning, I had some (health) issues, so could not go." </p><p>"My disgruntlement is only at the district level. I have no disgruntlement at the state or national level. I have said this earlier too, I am saying it again now," he said. </p>
<p>Karwar (Karnataka): BJP MLA Arabail Shivaram Hebbar on Wednesday cited health issues as the grounds for abstaining from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections.</p><p>He said there was no link between his abstention and his disgruntlement with the district unit of the party.</p><p>The Yellapur MLA did not turn up for the voting despite a party whip, while Yeshwanthpur MLA S T Somashekhar voted in favour of Congress in the name of "conscience", during the polls to four seats of Rajya Sabha from Karnataka on Tuesday, in an embarrassment to the BJP.</p>.<p>Somashekhar on Wednesday participated in the Assembly session, and was seen in his designated seat on the opposition side, among other BJP MLAs.</p><p>Both Somashekhar and Hebbar were earlier in the Congress. They were among <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/rebel-congress-jds-legislators">17 Congress-JD(S) legislators</a>, who had quit from their parties, which ultimately led to the collapse of H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July, 2019. </p><p>They had subsequently won the bypolls on BJP ticket and served as Ministers in the previous saffron party government.</p>.<p>"My health was not good in the morning (on Tuesday), I had planned to go (for voting), on Doctor's advice after 6 PM I had to come back, for this reason I could not vote. Nothing else. I could have gone for voting and could have done cross voting or could have come without voting for anyone," Hebbar said in response to a question.</p><p>Speaking to reporters here, he said, he was not a person who would abstain from voting out of any fear, and has been in politics for four decades.</p><p>"I was told by my personal assistant the whip was issued to me after 1 PM (on Tuesday). When the whip should be issued, how... law will take its course," he further said.</p>.'Legal action against Hebbar, Somashekhar for violating whip': BJP.<p>Hebbar said, there was no "relationship" between him abstaining from voting and his unhappiness with the party, and there are forums to express disgruntlement.</p><p>Asked whether he was giving any warning to the party by abstaining, he said, "I have not given any warning, I had some (health) issues, so could not go." </p><p>"My disgruntlement is only at the district level. I have no disgruntlement at the state or national level. I have said this earlier too, I am saying it again now," he said. </p>