In the long list of MLAs, MLCs and 1 MP who have switched sides from BJP to Congress right before the state assembly elections a major blow to the ruling BJP.
Eshwarappa, a prominent BJP leader, decided not to run in the Karnataka elections
KS Eshwarappa, a prominent member of the BJP, declared today that he will not run for office again. In a letter purportedly written by KS Eshwarappa to BJP president JP Nadda, which has been making the rounds online, the senior leader states that he will not be running in the upcoming elections. He has also requested that the party leader not assign him to any constituencies.
KS Eshwarappa, a BJP state legislator from Shivamogga and an erstwhile deputy chief minister of Karnataka, announced today that he will not run in the state Assembly elections on May 10. According to reports, the Shivamogga-based BJP MLA wrote JP Nadda a letter stating his choice.
The veteran lawmaker claimed that his decision to stay out of electoral politics was a result of his own free will in a letter to J P Nadda, the president of the national BJP. He has also requested that the party leader not assign him to any constituencies.
“From booth president to state party president over the past 40 years, my party has given me all duties. It was a privilege to serve as Karnataka’s deputy chief minister. I appreciate the faith that all of my party leaders have shown in me,” he stated.
Eshwarappa would reach the BJP’s unofficial age limit of 75 in June, which prohibits party leaders from running for office and holding elected positions. Although there have also been a few rare exceptions.
The experienced lawmaker claimed that his choice was motivated by his own free will.
His decision to withdraw from the election race has not yet been given a clear reason. However, according to a PTI report, the BJP MLA reportedly tried to get his son, KE Kantesh, a BJP ticket from the same seat.
He has frequently been on the subject of much controversy as a result of remarks he’s made and accusations made against him. He made his decision to leave electoral politics in a brief letter that was written in Kannada.
The five-time MLA was regarded as one of those who was crucial to the BJP’s rise in Karnataka. He has served as the state’s Kuruba (backward community) representative for the Saffron party.
Eshwarappa, who has RSS roots, is well-known for being an outspoken and forceful advocate of Hindu nationalism who has never shied away from controversy.
He had previously declared that Muslims would not be given BJP tickets to run in the elections because they do not support the party, and he suggested that eventually the “Bhagwa dhwaj” (saffron flag) might be adopted as the country’s flag.
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A contractor from Belagavi, Santosh Patil, was discovered dead on Tuesday at a hotel in Udupi, weeks after he claimed Eshwarappa had demanded a 40% commission on a Rs 4 crore project.
Patil allegedly accused Eshwarappa of passing in a WhatsApp message that was intended to be a suicide note.
The Karnataka state government and Chief Minister Bommai have been accused by the opposition Congress of attempting to protect Eshwarappa. Congress has aimed the governing BJP over the matter. Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, it demanded his detention.
Voting in Karnataka is scheduled for May 10 with results being made public on May 13.
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