The former Minister and BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa, who returned from Delhi disappointed after being denied a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, has said he will visit the national capital once again if he is invited but will not backtrack from his decision to contest as an Independent from the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency.
Mr. Eshwarappa told mediapersons at his residence in Shivamogga on Thursday that he went to Delhi on Wednesday to honour the invitation of Home Minister Amit Shah.
Flag of revolt
“I received a message from Mr. Shah’s office that there was no need for the meeting. It was an indirect message to me that I should go ahead with my plan to contest,” he said.
Mr. Eshwarappa said he had been to Delhi to obey the orders of seniors in the party. “Now onwards, no one will come forward for negotiations. With the blessings of the almighty, the BJP in Karnataka will be free from the stranglehold of one family,” he maintained.
The former Minister reiterated that he would contest and visit Delhi after winning the election to extend his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As he landed at Shivamogga airport in the afternoon, his supporters welcomed him by garlanding him. A bike rally was also held.
Why no meeting took place
Meanwhile, Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra opined that Mr. Eshwarappa’s statements to the media before leaving for Delhi must have disappointed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and that led to the cancellation of the meeting.
Mr. Raghavendra told reporters in Shivamogga on Thursday that he was also hopeful that, as Mr. Shah had invited Mr. Eshwarappa for a meeting, the issue could be resolved.
However, the meeting did not take place. “I feel Amit Shah was hurt. Mr. Eshwarappa spoke to the media about the call he received and also put in some conditions before going to Delhi. I think all these things reached Mr. Shah, and he was hurt. Because of that, in my opinion, the meeting was cancelled,” he said.
Mr. Eshwarappa, soon after getting the call from Mr. Shah, told the media that he would meet the Home Minister in Delhi and convey the reasons that forced him to contest. He also stated that he would withdraw his decision if the party’s State president, B.Y. Vijayendra, was replaced.
