On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled KS Eshwarappa from the party for six years. This action came in response to Eshwarappa's choice to run as an Independent candidate in the current Lok Sabha election for the Shivamogga parliamentary constituency in Karnataka.

"Ignoring the party's directions, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimogga Lok Sabha constituency, causing embarrassment to the party. This is a violation of party discipline," state disciplinary committee president Lingaraj Patil said in the expulsion order.

It said, "So, you have been relieved from all the responsibilities and have been expelled from the party for six years, with immediate effect."

The ex-deputy chief minister, who previously held the position of the party's state unit president, has thrown himself into the election race. He squarely points the finger at the state BJP president B Y Vijayendra and his father, the veteran party leader B S Yediyurappa, for the denial of the ticket to his son K E Kantesh to contest from Haveri.

The former deputy chief minister landed himself in controversy when he used a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his election campaign, despite having filed a nomination to contest the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate.

On April 10, the BJP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, urging them to prohibit Eshwarappa from using Modi's photo. They asserted that the former deputy chief minister had been "misleading" the public by suggesting that he was contesting on behalf of PM Modi and the BJP.

“He portrays that he is a part of the BJP, which is incorrect,” the complaint said.

Days later, the saffron party also filed a plea at the Shivamogga civil court seeking a restraining order against the rebel leader.

Meanwhile, the expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday said that he is not scared of any expulsion and was positive about his electoral prospects as an independent candidate from Karnataka's Shivamogga constituency.

"I have decided to contest as a non-party candidate, I still have hope, I do not fear any expulsion. I will contest elections and win and will go back to BJP again. I have competed five times with the lotus sign," Eshwarappa was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

Image source: Hindustan Times