Shivamogga (Karnataka) [India]: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel Eshwarapp on Friday filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency, defying the party order. The senior BJP leader is contesting against former Chi's son. Ministers BS Yediyurappa, BY Raghavendra Eshwarappa along with his wife Jayalakshmi submitted their nomination papers to District Returning Officer Gurudutt Hegde at the Deputy Commissioner's office. Earlier, he had offered prayers at the Ganapati temple in Ramanna Shresthi Park in Shivamogga. The veteran leader had expressed confidence in his victory. He told ANI, "All talks are over. Now there will be a direct contest. All the leaders and workers are with me. People are also with me. If I win, I will go to PM Narendra Modi." The party came under sharp criticism for giving the Mandya seat to former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and refusing to give ticket to his son Kantesh Eshwarappa. Speaking on Eshwarappa's decision to contest as an independent candidate, Kantesh said, "It is not against the party, Modi. It is against the party. Family politics. It is against the Yediyurappa family. We have to save the BJP in Karnataka. My father's vote will be the first vote for PM Modi in the 2024 elections. Voting will be held in two phases on April 26 and May 7. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress and JD(S) once again allied with the BJP. The election was contested. BJP won a record 25 seats, Congress and JD(S) won only one seat. Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held in seven phases starting from April 19. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.