The Karnataka BJP unit on Monday expelled former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa from the party for six years.
The expulsion came after Eshwarappa filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Shivamogga against sitting BJP MP and party nominee B Y Raghavendra, son of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa.
In a letter addressed to Eshwarappa, 75, BJP state disciplinary committee president Lingaraja Patil said, “Ignoring the orders of the party, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency.
As the BJP state president, he doesn’t even know what contesting as an Independent means!”According to sources, the BJP tried to pacify Eshwarappa multiple times but without success.
After his son Kantesh was denied a ticket, Eshwarappa alleged that the BJP in Karnataka was suffering at the hands of the father-son duo (Yediyurappa and Vijayendra).
The Karnataka BJP unit on Monday expelled former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa from the party for six years. The expulsion came after Eshwarappa filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Shivamogga against sitting BJP MP and party nominee B Y Raghavendra, son of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa. Raghavendra is also the brother of Karnataka BJP unit chief B Y Vijayendra.
In a letter addressed to Eshwarappa, 75, BJP state disciplinary committee president Lingaraja Patil said, “Ignoring the orders of the party, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency. This has caused embarrassment to the party and has violated the disciplinary code. Starting from now, you have been vacated from all responsibilities and have been suspended from the party for six years.”
The BJP has also objected to Eshwarappa using the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his campaign. The party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC). However, Eshwarappa also said that he has filed a caveat in a local court stating that he should not be stopped from using PM Modi’s photo during electioneering as “Modi is our leader”.
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Reacting to the development, one of Eshwarappa’s close aides said they were expecting the expulsion.
Eshwarappa himself did not respond to the order but said he would hold a press meeting soon.
Recently, when asked whether disciplinary action would be initiated against him, Eshwarappa had said, “What disciplinary action he (Vijayendra) will take when I’m contesting as an Independent? Contesting as an Independent means I have come out of the party. As the BJP state president, he doesn’t even know what contesting as an Independent means!”
According to sources, the BJP tried to pacify Eshwarappa multiple times but without success. Vijayendra in one of his poll campaigns in Shivamogga district had even claimed that he and his brother had the ‘blessings’ of Eshwarappa.
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There have long been reports of a rift between Eshwarappa and Yediyurappa. After his son Kantesh was denied a ticket, Eshwarappa alleged that the BJP in Karnataka was suffering at the hands of the father-son duo (Yediyurappa and Vijayendra).
During one of his recent visits to the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had summoned Eshwarappa to Delhi but the latter was unable to meet the minister.
Then Eshwarappa had said, “There is no question of withdrawing from the contest. After reaching Delhi I got a call from Amit Shah’s office that he would not be able to meet me, which means he wants me to contest and defeat Raghavendra.”
Voting for the Shivamogga constituency will be held in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 7.
