Bangalore, March 7, 2013 :
KS Eshwarappa has resigned as the president of BJP’s Karnataka unit. The announcement came soon after the completion of the polling of the urban local body elections.
Eshwarappa’s announcement has created ripples in the state politics. While leaders of Congress party have termed the resignation as the acceptance of defeat in the election. ” He should have resigned on Monday after the declaration of the results. He has put down his papers early to save his face. It is clear indication that the ruling party has accepted the defeat” senior congress leader T B Jayachandra ridiculed.
On the other hand BJP leaders have maintained that the resignation has no connection with the urban local body elections. ” I have sent my resignation letter to party’s national president Rajnath Singh to pave way for appointment of a new party chief for the assembly elections” Eshwarappa told media at his Shimoga residence.
It can be noted that the party state unit is holding its core committee meeting in next two days to discuss the name of next president of the party unit. BJP’s national leader Arun Jaitley is coming to Bangalore on Friday evening.
Eshwarappa was unanimously elected as the President of the Karnataka state unit of the ruling BJP in January 2010. The move was seen as BJP’s strategy to tackle opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah, who also belongs to the same kuruba community.
Eshwarappa became Deputy Chief minister of Karnataka in July 2012 when, Jagadish Shettar became Chief minister following the resignation of D.V. Sadananda Gowda. Though he offered to quit the party post he was asked to continue.
