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Lok Sabha elections 2024: BJP expels former Karnataka DY CM Eshwarappa for 6 years for contesting in Shivamogga
Former Karnataka Deputy CM Eshwarappa expelled from BJP for 6 years. Eshwarappa is contesting from Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency against former CM BS Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, who is also the state BJP president.
The BJP expelled ‘rebel’ party leader KS Eshwarappa for six years on Monday for violating party discipline. The development came as the former Karnataka Deputy chief minister remained steadfast in his decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Shivamogga constituency.
Eshwarappa had filed his nomination as an independent candidate and spurned extensive efforts by BJP leaders to pacify him. Former CM and party veteran B S Yediyurappa's son and state BJP president BY Vijayendra is the party candidate in Shivamogga.
“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.
The party opted to expell Eshwarappa as the window to withdraw the candidature for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls closed on Monday evening. The 75-year-old had recently insisted that he was an independent and is not with the BJP.
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"What disciplinary action he (Vijayendra) will take, when I'm contesting as an independent? Contesting as an independent means, I have come out of the party. As the BJP state President he doesn't even know what contesting as an independent means. Take whatever disciplinary action you want. I don't fear such threats," Eshwarappa asserted last week.
He also claimed that the Karnataka BJP President had secured his post due to ‘dynasty politics’ — an assertion vehemently denied by BY Vijayendra. The latter told PTI during a recent interview that the decision to make him the state unit chief was taken by the BJP national leadership, and had nothing to do with his father and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.
“Party workers are questioning Eshwarappa today. He is contesting in Shimoga because his son couldn't get a ticket from Haveri. Candidates for all the constituencies were decided by the national leadership based on performance of sitting MPs, opinion of 'Karyakartas' through NaMo app. Based on various parameters, high command has decided. It is not Vijayendra or Yediyurappa who have decided the candidates,” he had told the publication.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Business NewsElectionsLok Sabha elections 2024: BJP expels former Karnataka DY CM Eshwarappa for 6 years for contesting in Shivamogga
First Published:22 Apr 2024, 08:45 PM IST
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