BJP Leader Decides To Contest As Independent After His Meeting With Amit Shah Called Off (Photo on X K S Eshwarappa (Modi Ka Parivar) @ikseshwarappa)

BJP leader and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa today took a surprising step when he was denied a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. Following this, KS Eshwarappa has announced that he will compete against the BJP candidate and former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa”s son BY Raghavendra in Shivamogga. Mr Raghavendra is the sitting MP from the constituency.

The rebelling BJP leader’s decision was made following the Union Home Minister called off the meeting with Eshwarappa, leaving him to take his own decision. Amit Shah had invited Eshwarappa to Delhi for discussion but did not meet him as he arrived in Delhi on Wednesday.

Speaking about the development, Eshwarappa said that the denial of the Home Minister means that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah want me to contest and defeat Mr Raghavendra to teach a lesson to Yediyurappa who is practising politics of a dynasty.

Eshwarappa had obeyed the leadership direction not to contest in the Assembly election in 2023, hoping that the party would give a Lok Sabha ticket to his son K.E. Kanthesh. But, after he was denied the ticket from the Haveri Lok Sabha constituency, he emerged rebellious to the former chief minister.

However, Eshwarappa said that he would agree to withdraw his decision to contest from Shivamogga only if the party removed the state BJP chief and former chief minister’s son  B Y Vijayendra from the position. He also attacked the Yediyurappa accusing him of promoting dynastic politics.

Notably, Eshwarappa said that he was contesting to fix the mess, adding that he would not step back from the decision. “I will pay my respects to you and come to Delhi,” he said hinting that he is still with the saffron camp..