BJP leader KS Eshwarappa. (Image: PTI/File)
The former deputy chief minister decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent after the BJP denied him a ticket
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday expelled KS Eshwarappa from the party for six years for rebelling against it by contesting as an Independent from the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat.
The former deputy chief minister decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent after the BJP denied him a ticket.
Last week, Eshwarappa went from door to door, opening his heart to the voters about how they should choose him to “save” the BJP and its principles.
The five-time MLA from Shivamogga had made it a point to stress that his fight is against ‘pariwarvaad’ or dynastic politics, which he said is seen in the Congress and JD(S) and has now trickles down to the BJP.
He alleged that former Karnataka CM and BJP parliamentary board member, Yediyurappa, is fostering this to secure posts and power for his sons, BY Raghavendra and BY Vijayendra.
“I say the BJP should either remove Vijayendra as state BJP president or cancel the ticket given to Raghavendra for the Shimoga LS seat. If you do not do this, the BJP has no right to criticise the Congress and call it a party of dynasts,” Eshwarappa had said.
Upset with the treatment given to him in comparison to another BJP leader — Jagdish Shettar — Eshwarappa said that he would seek an explanation from the BJP high command on the injustice meted out to him.
Earlier this month, Eshwarappa had said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah called him up and asked him to withdraw his candidature from the Shivamogga constituency but he stood firm on his decision to contest.
The BJP has fielded party veteran Yediyurappa’s son and MP BY Raghavendra from the Shivamogga constituency.
In his call with Shah, Eshwarappa said that the Home Minister asked him to not contest the election and withdraw the nomination papers. He had said that all the demands will be addressed in the coming days, the 75-year-old rebel BJP leader said.
(More details to follow)
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