Three Independent candidates withdraw nomination papers in Shivamogga, Eshwarappa remains in the fray

New Delhi: The BJP on Monday expelled rebel leader K S Eshwarappa from the party for six years due to his breach of party discipline by contesting the Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate. Eshwarappa, a former deputy chief minister and state unit president of the party, decided to enter the electoral fray following the denial of a ticket to his son K E Kantesh to contest from Haveri.

He blamed state BJP president B Y Vijayendra and his father, veteran party leader B S Yediyurappa, for his son K E Kantesh being denied the ticket. The BJP has chosen Basavaraj Bommai as its candidate for Haveri, while Vijayendra's brother and MP B Y Raghavendra will contest from Shimoga, reported PTI.

"Ignoring the party's directions, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, causing embarrassment to the party. This is violation of party discipline", state disciplinary committee president Lingaraj Patil said in the expulsion order.