Bengaluru, May 3 (). Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and senior BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa has said that he is voluntarily retiring from active politics. There were reports that he made such a statement to register his protest with the central leadership of the BJP after being denied ticket from Shivamogga. Eshwarappa, however, in a phone interview to expressed his unhappiness over his former colleague Jagadish Shettar’s decision to join the Congress.
Excerpts from the interview:
: What do you feel about the BJP’s prospects in Karnataka?
Eshwarappa: BJP is winning elections in Karnataka with a good mandate. There is no anti-incumbency factor in the state. The BJP government has done a good job for the people so that they will bring our party back to power in the 2023 assembly elections.
: You are one of the senior most leaders of the party and this time you are not contesting. Are you unhappy with this?
Eshwarappa: See, I have voluntarily told my national leadership that I will not contest elections and I am retiring from active politics. So there is no need for such question regarding my unhappiness. I am completely happy and actively working for the victory of party candidate Channabasappa.
: There was talk that you would field your son K.E. They were manipulating to get Kantesh a ticket. Your comments.
Eshwarappa: I have never done any manipulation for my son Kantesh. Channabasappa is my active follower and party worker, who has been four time corporator in Shivamogga Corporation and party district general secretary. He is a capable leader and he will win the seat for the party.
: Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar has resigned from the party and is contesting the elections on a Congress ticket. Your comments?
Eshwarappa: Jagadish Shettar should not have done this. He is a senior leader of the party and the party has made him Leader of Opposition, Speaker, Minister in important portfolios and Chief Minister of Karnataka. He should have accepted the decision of the central leadership of the party. This decision only harms him, not the party or the country.
: You reportedly said that you don’t need Muslim votes in elections. Was this said as part of a ploy to divide people on religious lines?
Eshwarappa: I never said that I don’t need Muslim votes or BJP doesn’t need Muslim votes. I had said that we do not need the votes of those Muslims who are traitors.
There is a huge difference between the two. I will not do anything that will hurt communal feelings and my conscience is clear about it.
akj
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