Karnataka polls: Ex-Dy CM & BJP leader Eshwarappa opts out of electoral contest

New Delhi: In a setback to Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior party leader KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday decided to opt out of the electoral contest and wrote a letter to this effect to party’s national president JP Nadda.

The 75-year-old former BJP’s deputy Chief Minister made it clear that he was opting out of the electoral contest race and won’t be fighting polls any more.

“I am withdrawing from electoral politics,” Eshwarappa wrote in a letter to BJP chief JP Nadda.

The veteran BJP leader has been at the centre of controversies on a number of occasions. His strong right-wing stance often stirred the pot in the state, also prompting his rivals to hit back at him & saffron party.

The MLA from Shivamogga constituency had stepped down as the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister last year.His resignation came on back of allegations by Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil’s suicide in Udupi hotel. The contractor had alleged that the BJP leader was demanding 40% commission from them. He was however, cleared of all charges in the given case.

Though, Eshwarappa claimed that the decision to quit electoral politics was his own, the state BJP chief K Annamalai saluted his spirit of ‘putting the party first’.

The spirit of a BJP Karyakarta – Always putting the party first & Grateful to @BJP4India for giving opportunities to all of us in contributing to nation-building.

Wishing KS Eashwarappa sir all success! https://t.co/oL2E8qAdIG

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 11, 2023

Eshwarappa is turning 75 in June 2023, an age bar in the party when leaders take retirement from active politics i.e. contesting polls or holding party office.

Karnataka polls in May 2023

Karnataka is set to go to polls in single phase on May 10 and results would be declared on May 13. Expected to be a tri-party contest, the state has 3 key players – BJP, Congress & JD(S).

Congress has announced its 2 list of candidates, JD (S) 1 while BJP is yet to announce its 1st list, with internal squabbling said to be the reason behind delay. Currently, the BJP has 119 MLAs in the Assembly, Congress occupies 2nd spot with 75 MLAs while JD (S) has 28 seats.