Shivamogga (Karnataka), Former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday said he is not afraid of expulsion from the BJP and reiterated his resolve to fight the Lok Sabha elections as an independent with full vigour.
He said his removal was on expected lines.
The BJP on Monday expelled Eshwarappa for six years for violating party discipline and contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate.
State disciplinary committee chairman Lingara Patil said in the expulsion order, "Ignoring party instructions, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, causing embarrassment to the party. This is a matter of party discipline. is a violation.,
"Therefore, you are relieved of all responsibilities and expelled from the party for six years with immediate effect," it said.
Eshwarappa is adamant on his decision to contest the elections, with party leaders rejecting attempts to persuade him.
The party's decision to expel the former leader of opposition in the Legislative Council came on May 7, the last day of withdrawal of candidature for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Eshwarappa, along with Yediyurappa and the late HN Ananth Kumar, is widely credited with building the BJP at the grassroots level in Karnataka.
Before the assembly elections last year, while opting out of the election, he had told the party's central leadership that he wanted to retire from electoral politics and requested that he not be considered for fielding him from any constituency.Modi then called Eshwarappa and spoke to him over video call and praised his move to retire from electoral politics as per party instructions.
Eshwarappa sarcastically told reporters here on Tuesday, "I have not received any information from the party regarding my expulsion." The fact is I was wondering why I haven't been expelled yet.
“I will not be afraid of expulsion,” he said. My contesting the election is clear, winning from Shivamogga (Shimoga Lok Sabha seat) is clear and the strength (the hand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also clear)'' said the 75-year-old.
He said he has been allotted the "Sugarcane Farmer" election symbol indicating blessings for him from the farmers of his constituency.Eshwarappa was seeking a ticket for his son K E Kantesh from the neighboring Hawar constituency.
After being denied the ticket, Eshwarappa rebelled against former chief minister S Yediyurappa and the BJP parliamentary board member and accused him of ruining his son's political prospects.
Taking aim at Yediyurappa and his two sons - BY Raghavendra, who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Shivamogga, and BJP state president and Shikaripura MLA BY Vijayendra, Eshwarappa said the BJP has turned into a 'father-son' party in Karnataka. In which nepotism abounds.
He said his removal was on expected lines.
The BJP on Monday expelled Eshwarappa for six years for violating party discipline and contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate.
State disciplinary committee chairman Lingara Patil said in the expulsion order, "Ignoring party instructions, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, causing embarrassment to the party. This is a matter of party discipline. is a violation.,
"Therefore, you are relieved of all responsibilities and expelled from the party for six years with immediate effect," it said.
Eshwarappa is adamant on his decision to contest the elections, with party leaders rejecting attempts to persuade him.
The party's decision to expel the former leader of opposition in the Legislative Council came on May 7, the last day of withdrawal of candidature for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Eshwarappa, along with Yediyurappa and the late HN Ananth Kumar, is widely credited with building the BJP at the grassroots level in Karnataka.
Before the assembly elections last year, while opting out of the election, he had told the party's central leadership that he wanted to retire from electoral politics and requested that he not be considered for fielding him from any constituency.Modi then called Eshwarappa and spoke to him over video call and praised his move to retire from electoral politics as per party instructions.
Eshwarappa sarcastically told reporters here on Tuesday, "I have not received any information from the party regarding my expulsion." The fact is I was wondering why I haven't been expelled yet.
“I will not be afraid of expulsion,” he said. My contesting the election is clear, winning from Shivamogga (Shimoga Lok Sabha seat) is clear and the strength (the hand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also clear)'' said the 75-year-old.
He said he has been allotted the "Sugarcane Farmer" election symbol indicating blessings for him from the farmers of his constituency.Eshwarappa was seeking a ticket for his son K E Kantesh from the neighboring Hawar constituency.
After being denied the ticket, Eshwarappa rebelled against former chief minister S Yediyurappa and the BJP parliamentary board member and accused him of ruining his son's political prospects.
Taking aim at Yediyurappa and his two sons - BY Raghavendra, who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Shivamogga, and BJP state president and Shikaripura MLA BY Vijayendra, Eshwarappa said the BJP has turned into a 'father-son' party in Karnataka. In which nepotism abounds.
