Shivamogga: Former minister K S Eshwarappa, who contested as an independent candidate from the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency following denial of a BJP ticket, is now supporting former MLA and BJP leader K Raghupathi Bhat, who is also contesting as an independent candidate for the South-West Graduate constituency after being denied the BJP ticket to contest the election.
Addressing graduates and his supporters on Tuesday, Eshwarappa asked voters to support him and elect him to the upper house of the Karnataka Legislature. He expressed confidence that Raghupathi Bhat would win this election, and his victory could not be averted by Lord Brahma.
Eshwarappa, in his speech, highlighted how candidates used to be selected by the BJP previously. There used to be deliberation among senior leaders; they used to finalize the name of the suitable candidate. Now the scenario has changed. Only one family in the state decides the candidate for the election, he said.
He mentioned that former CM BS Yediyurappa and his family decide candidates for any election, and the BJP is under the grip of Yediyurappa, which should be changed. To change this, he and Raghupathi Bhat have decided and by winning this seat, they would free the party from the clutches of BS Yediyurappa, he said.
