Senior BJP leader Eshwarappa participates in RSS celebration for Ugadi festival in Karnataka

Shivamogga, April 9 (IANS) Veteran BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa made headlines as he participated in an RSS program in Shivamogga on the occasion of Ugadi. Despite his recent rebellion against the BJP, Eshwarappa attended the event alongside BJP candidate B.Y. Raghavendra.

The event took place at Adichunchanagiri School, where both Raghavendra and Eshwarappa wore RSS uniforms but did not exchange greetings, showcasing the tension between them. Eshwarappa’s serious demeanor contrasted with Raghavendra’s cheerful appearance during the program.

Eshwarappa’s dissatisfaction with BJP stems from the denial of a Lok Sabha ticket to his son from the Haveri parliamentary seat. He blames former CM Yediyurappa and has vowed to contest against Yediyurappa’s son, Raghavendra, in the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat. He also demanded the removal of B.Y. Vijayendra from the post of state president.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had a conversation with Eshwarappa during his visit to Bengaluru, where he allegedly requested Eshwarappa to withdraw from the contest but later refused to meet him. Eshwarappa interpreted this as a green signal to contest as an independent candidate after Shah did not meet him upon his return from New Delhi.