BJP senior leader and Shivamogga MLA K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday told the party’s central leadership that he wishes to retire from electoral politics and requested it to not consider fielding him from any constituency in the Assembly polls next month.Eshwarappa is considered as one of the instrumental leader alongside Yediyurappa, in building the BJP in Karnataka.
He is the OBC face of BJP in Karnataka.
Ahead of the release of the BJP’s first names for the Karnataka polls, the 74-year-old Eshwarappa, a former deputy chief minister, has announced his retirement.
He said he was staying away to help the BJP reach a majority.The polling for Karnataka Elections is to be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will happen on May 13.
This is an unlikely docile retreat for the outspoken Kuruba leader who has never been far from controversy in the state, in his over 40-year political career.And has been fighting to stay on after resignation as minister last year over a corruption charge.
Eshwarappa, who belongs to Shivamogga district like Yediyurappa, wrote to BJP president J P Nadda announcing his decision to “voluntarily” retire from electoral politics.He expressed his “gratitude” to party seniors, for giving him honorable positions during his long career, starting from the booth level.
Speculation is rife that the 74-year-old Mr.Eshwarappa may have retired to enable his son Kanthesh to get ticket.It may be noted that earlier, veteran leader B.S.Yediyurappa, who too hails from Shivamogga district, announced retirement from electoral politics to make way for his son B.Y.Vijayendra.
He is the third BJP MLA to announce retirement.
Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty too announced retirement from electoral politics a few days ago.It is being said that Mr.Eshwarappa was in a dilemma about continuing in electoral politics after he had to step down as Minister following the suspicious death of a contractor who had accused him of demanding commission to clear his bills.
