We Are Not Asking For Votes In Name Of Lingayats But In The Name Of Hindutva: K S Eshwarappa

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K S Eshwarapppa on Thursday (20 April) said that not just Lingayats but everyone who is with Hindutva, whether they are Lingayat, Kuruba, or Brahmin, should vote for the BJP. 

In an interview with the ANI, he also added that by playing the Lingayat card, Congress is trying to win elections by dividing Hindus. 

On being asked about speculations that the Lingayat community is upset with the party, Eshwarappa said, “We have fielded many Lingayat candidates and they support us. But we don’t ask that only Lingayats should vote for us. Those who are Hindutvavadis, should all vote for BJP. Whether they are Lingayat, Kuruba, or Brahmin.” 

“By playing the Lingayat card and dividing castes, the Congress wants to win elections. They definitely won’t find any success,” he said. 

Speaking on several leaders defecting from the party right before elections, he said, “There is no point in worrying about those who have left the party now. In the same constituency, we will win with our young leaders.” 

Notably, Eshwarappa was one among the many leaders dropped from the candidates list of BJP this time around. A five-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister under the Jagadish Shettar government, Eshwarappa announced his retirement from electoral politics. Moreover, his son was denied a ticket too. 

Eshwarappa resigned as the Minister of Rural Development last year after being accused of abetting suicide in the Santhosh Patil death case. 

He received a phone call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (21 April), the video of which he shared on social media. In the video, Eshwarappa was seen assuring the Prime Minister that the party would win the upcoming elections. 

Notably, Channabasappa, BJP’s candidate from Shivamogga (Eshwarappa’s seat), filed his papers in the presence of Eshwarappa.