BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken the decision to expel rebel Karnataka leader K S Eshwarappa for a period of six years due to his violation 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 election race after his son K E Kantesh was denied the ticket to contest from Haveri. This move was seen as a direct challenge to the authority of state BJP president B Y Vijayendra and his father, veteran party leader B S Yediyurappa.
The expulsion order was issued by the state disciplinary committee president Lingaraj Patil, citing Eshwarappa’s refusal to adhere to the party’s directives and causing embarrassment by contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimoga. As a result, Eshwarappa has been relieved of all responsibilities and expelled from the party for a period of six years, effective immediately.
Despite efforts by party leaders to persuade him otherwise, the 75-year-old Eshwarappa remained resolute in his decision to contest as an independent candidate. His nomination for the Lok Sabha polls was filed on the last day for withdrawal of candidature for the second phase of elections in Karnataka on May 7.
Eshwarappa, along with Yediyurappa and the late H N Ananth Kumar, is recognized for his role in building the BJP from the grassroots in Karnataka. He has expressed concerns about the influence of Yediyurappa and his family within the state party, accusing them of sidelining those who advocate for Hindutva principles.
The expulsion of Eshwarappa marks a significant development within the BJP in Karnataka, highlighting internal conflicts and power struggles within the party leadership.
Accusations have been made that the state party is under the control of its Parliamentary board member, Yediyurappa, and his family. Yediyurappa’s sons hold positions as an MP and MLA, while his other son, Vijayendra, serves as the state BJP president. Eshwarappa, on the other hand, has repeatedly criticized Yediyurappa for sidelining individuals who support Hindutva, such as Nalin Kumar Kateel, Pratap Simha, C T Ravi, and D V Sadananda Gowda.
Despite these tensions, Eshwarappa has made it clear that he does not oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prior to the Assembly polls last year, Eshwarappa chose to step back from the contest and informed the party’s central leadership of his desire to retire from electoral politics. He requested that he not be considered for any constituency.
In response to Eshwarappa’s decision, Modi personally reached out to him via video call to express his appreciation for Eshwarappa’s choice to retire from poll politics in accordance with the party’s instructions.
