KS Eshwarappa to fight against Yediyurappa’s son despite Amit Shah call

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Apr 02, 2024: Despite a discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka KS Eshwarappa has remained adamant on contesting the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat as an independent against BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Raghvendra. Eshwarappa said that his fight was against the family of BS Yediyurappa, a former Chief Minister and Lingayat strongman.

 

Eshwarappa, who has been miffed after the BJP denied a ticket to his son KE Kantesh from the Haveri seat, will travel to Delhi on Wednesday to meet Amit Shah.

Eshwarappa has blamed Yediyurappa for the BJP denying a ticket to his son KE Kantesh from Haveri and instead picking former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from the seat.

Yediyurappa and his son BY Raghavendra have won the Shivamogga constituency since 2009. Apart from Eshwarappa, Raghvendra will face Geetha Shivarajkumar of the Congress.

Eshwarappa, who belongs to the Kuruba caste, has won the Shivamogga constituency five times. The veteran BJP leader had earlier announced his decision to retire from electoral politics but withdrew it after his son was denied a ticket.

He also kept himself away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Shivamogga on March 18.

The development comes amid simmering discontent within the BJP in various constituencies following the announcement of Lok Sabha election candidates. In the Belgaum Lok Sabha seat, infighting has erupted after the BJP gave ticket to former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

There is also disgruntlement in several other constituencies, like Davangere, Chikkaballapur, Koppal, Shimoga, Haveri, Tumkur, Bidar, Raichur and Chitradurga.

Karnataka will vote in two phases in the Lok Sabha elections on April 26 and May 7 for 28 constituencies.

Courtesy: India Today