Bengaluru, April 23:
Karnataka BJP on Monday expelled senior leader K.S. Eshwarappa for six years for “disregarding party instructions” and contesting as an Independent candidate from the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency.
The decision comes ahead of the May 7 polls to the constituency.
In a statement, Lingaraj Patil, chairperson of Karnataka BJP’s disciplinary committee, stated, “Disregarding the instructions of the party, he (Eshwarappa) has contested as a rebel candidate from the current Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency and caused embarrassment to the party. This is a violation of party discipline. He is therefore absolved from all responsibilities with immediate effect and expelled from the party for six years.” The rift between Eshwarappa and the BJP surfaced when the party denied a ticket to his son, KE Kanthesh, for the Haveri seat. Since then, Eshwarappa has been vocal about seeking retribution against BJP candidate BY Raghavendra, BS Yediyurappa’s son.
Eshwarappa has also aimed to challenge Vijayendra Yediyurappa, another son of Yediyurappa, for the post of Karnataka BJP President.
Despite his expulsion, Eshwarappa remained defiant.
Earlier, Eshwarappa had clarified that contesting as an independent candidate signalled his departure from the BJP, making him immune to party disciplinary actions. He has frequently invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance against dynastic politics, emphasising his alignment with the PM’s vision to free the BJP in Karnataka from the Yediyurappa family’s influence.
Eshwarappa, a prominent Kuruba leader and a key figure in Karnataka politics, had been associated with the BJP since its early days in the state. His expulsion adds another layer of complexity to the already turbulent political landscape of Karnataka, with potential implications for the upcoming elections.
The development follows Eshwarappa’s resignation from the Basavaraj Bommai cabinet in 2022, following corruption allegations, which had a significant impact on the State’s political dynamics during the Assembly polls.
