Bengaluru: In a bold move, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, K.S. Eshwarappa, declared his candidacy as an Independent nominee from Shivamogga in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Eshwarappa made the announcement following a meeting with his supporters in Shivamogga, emphasizing his decision to contest independently.
The BJP’s official candidate from Shivamogga is B.Y. Raghavendra, the son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, while the Congress has put forward Geetha Shivarajkumar as its contender for the seat. Geetha Shivarajkumar, daughter of the late former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa and sister of state Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, is married to Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar.
Explaining his decision, Eshwarappa highlighted concerns over what he perceives as the influence of Yediyurappa’s family within the state BJP.
“The state BJP’s alignment with Yediyurappa’s family is a matter of concern for Hindutva activists,” he stated, underscoring his intention to contest independently to address these issues.