Following his expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), KS Eshwarappa has announced his intention to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate. Despite his expulsion, Eshwarappa remains resolute, expressing confidence in his electoral prospects and affirming his desire to rejoin the BJP after the polls.
Addressing the media shortly after his expulsion, Eshwarappa stated, “I have decided to contest as a non-party candidate. I still have hope. I do not fear any expulsion.” He further declared, “I will contest elections and win and will go back to BJP again. I have competed five times with the lotus sign.”
The BJP expelled KS Eshwarappa for a period of six years, citing violations of party discipline and his decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently.
KS Eshwarappa, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and former state unit president of the BJP, entered the electoral fray following grievances over ticket distribution. He accused state BJP president BY Vijayendra and his father, veteran leader BS Yediyurappa, of denying a ticket to his son, KE Kantesh, to contest from Haveri constituency. The BJP nominated former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for the Haveri seat and BY Vijayendra’s brother, MP BY Raghavendra, for Shimoga.
Despite efforts by party leaders to persuade him otherwise, the 75-year-old KS Eshwarappa remained steadfast in his decision to contest independently, culminating in the filing of his nomination.
The BJP’s decision to expel KS Eshwarappa coincided with the final day for withdrawal of candidatures for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, scheduled for May 7.
KS Eshwarappa, along with Yediyurappa and the late HN Ananth Kumar, is widely acknowledged for his role in nurturing the BJP’s grassroots presence in Karnataka.
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