Eshwarappa announces retirement from electoral politics, writes to Nadda

BENGALURU: Weeks ahead of the Assembly election in the state, senior BJP leader and Shivamogga MLA K S Eshwarappa has made a surprise announcement that he is quitting electoral politics.

He is the second senior leader to do so after former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. A few days ago, S A Ravindranath and Haladi Srinivas Shetty too had announced their retirement from electoral politics.

In a letter to party national president J P Nadda, Eshwarappa has said that he is voluntarily withdrawing from electoral politics and requested that his candidature should not be considered for any constituency.

Eshwarappa has written to party national president J P Nadda on Tuesday.

“In the 40 years of my political career, I have grown from a booth-level leader to hold various positions including Deputy Chief Minister and I am thankful to the party leadership for it”.

It is widely speculated that Eshwarappa is withdrawing from the fray to make way for his son K E Kantesh. He had even dropped hints that he may not be contesting the upcoming Assembly polls.

Eshwarappa, a senior Kuruba community leader which forms a substaintial voting bloc, has earlier been Opposition leader and a member of the Legislative Council too.