BJP Expels KS Eshwarappa For Six Years

BJP today expelled former state president and deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa from the party for 6 years. The party, in a statement said the senior leader has been expelled from the party for embarrassing the party by contesting as an Independent from Shivamogga constituency.

Eshwarappa, also a former minister in Karnataka, after his son Kanthesh was denied a BJP ticket from the Haveri seat, declared his intention to run as an Independent candidate in the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka. His decision sets the stage for a showdown with B Y Raghavendra, the incumbent MP and son of former CM B S Yediyurappa. Yoganandra is also the state chief of BJP.

Earlier this month, Eshwarappa stirred controversy by using Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo for campaign purposes ahead of the general elections. Defending his actions, he emphasised Modi”s leadership and filed a caveat in a local court to prevent any interference with his use of the Prime Minister”s image in election campaigning.

Last year, Eshwarappa acquiesced to the party’s decision to abstain from contesting in the Assembly polls, reportedly due to assurances from the state leadership, including Yediyurappa, regarding a Lok Sabha ticket for his son Kanthesh. However, Kanthesh was not nominated, leading to discontent within Eshwarappa”s camp. The BJP eventually awarded the Haveri ticket to former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, contrary to Eshwarappa”s expectations.