BJP Expels Rebel Karnataka Leader Eshwarappa For Contesting Shivamogga LS Seat As Independent Candidate

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.

It stated further, "So, you have been relieved from all the responsibilities and have been expelled from the party for six years, with immediate effect".

BJP expelled KS Eshwarappa from the party for 6 years for embarrassing the party by contesting as an Independent from Shivamogga constituency: Karnataka BJP pic.twitter.com/t66oNJDe4p

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024

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Despite efforts by party leaders to dissuade him, 75-year-old Eshwarappa remained resolute in his decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls, even filing his nomination as an independent candidate. The party's decision to expel the former Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council came on the final day for the withdrawal of candidature for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka on May 7.

Eshwarappa Vs Yediyurappa In Karnataka BJP

Eshwarappa, along with Yediyurappa and the late H N Ananth Kumar, is widely acknowledged for his pivotal role in building the BJP from the grassroots in Karnataka.

Amidst his ongoing conflict with the party leadership, Eshwarappa has repeatedly accused Yediyurappa of exerting familial control over the state BJP, with one son serving as an MP, another as an MLA and the state BJP president.

He has criticised Yediyurappa for allegedly sidelining prominent Hindutva advocates within the party, including Nalin Kumar Kateel, Pratap Simha, C T Ravi, and D V Sadananda Gowda. Despite these grievances, Eshwarappa has clarified that his opposition is not directed towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Last year, prior to the Assembly polls, Eshwarappa expressed his desire to retire from electoral politics and requested the party's central leadership not to field him as a candidate, as per PTI.

PM Modi had then dialled Eshwarappa and spoke to him over a video call and expressed appreciation for his move to retire from poll politics, as per the instructions from the party.