KS Eshwarappa to file nomination for Shivamogga LS seat on Friday
Shivamogga (Karnataka), Apr 11: Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and rebel BJP leader K S Eshwarappa on Thursday said he would file his nomination for Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat tomorrow.
Eshwarappa asserted he would file his nomination in the wake of speculation that he would back off from contesting the polls and said a large number of people would turn up.
"Tomorrow, a large number of people from across the constituency will come as I will be filing my nomination papers. I was not sure that I will get such an overwhelming response during my election campaign," the veteran leader said.
He claimed people were backing him because they were realising that the dream of a 'Hindutva' supporter winning the election is going to be fulfilled.
Several Hindutva activists have come out in his support across the eight assembly segments under Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency, he added.
ALSO READ: KS Eshwarappa predicts B. Y. Raghavendra's defeat in Shivamogga
Hitting out at those spreading rumours that he would back off, the former DCM said, "I am seeing that false information is being spread out of fear of defeat. I don't know why they are indulging in such activities. I have said in all the languages I know that I am not going to withdraw. My wellwishers have also said I should not give up." Eshwarappa rebelled against the party after BJP denied his son K E Kantesh a ticket from Haveri Lok Sabha seat.
He held former CM and BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa and his two sons BY Raghavendra and BY Vijayendra responsible for his son not being given a chance to contest.
Raghavendra is the BJP candidate from Shivamogga and Vijayendra is the party's state unit president and Shikaripura MLA.
The rebel leader said BJP is in the control of 'father and sons' in Karnataka and if the party wishes to fight dynastic politics, it should start from the state.
Eshwarappa is campaigning extensively in Shivamogga and is using Prime Minister Narendra Modi's picture throughout it.
Fearing that the BJP candidate may object to the use of Modi's photograph, he even filed a caveat in court.
On using Prime Minister Modi's photograph in the election campaign, Eshwarappa said Modi is in his heart, which no one can take away.
"Modi is in my heart because he is my role model, I will use his picture. Let the court decide on using Modi's photograph in the campaign," he added.
He challenged Yediyurappa not to use Modi's photo during his son's election campaign.
"Let Yediyurappa put his photograph in the middle and picture of his sons on either side and seek votes. We will see how many votes he will get. Yediyurappa had once quit BJP and formed Karnataka Janata Paksha (in 2012). All that he got was six seats," Eshwarappa said.
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Conspiracy to weaken our family politically, says Prajwal Revanna's brother
Hassan (PTI): JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna on Thursday said that the scandal and charges of sexual abuse levelled against his brother and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna was a "conspiracy to weaken their family politically".
He claimed that he has no information about the whereabouts of Prajwal Revanna, who has been served a notice by the Special Investigation Team over the alleged sex scandal involving him.
He termed the scandal and charges of sexual abuse against his brother and his father and MLA H D Revanna, a former Minister, as a conspiracy to weaken them politically, and expressed confidence about Prajwal's win in the Lok Sabha polls.
H D Revanna is the son of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda. Prajwal, grandson of Deve Gowda, was the BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to the polls on April 26.
"The (sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna) case has been handed over for investigation (to SIT), whatever has to be proved will get proved there. How can I react to it? I don't have information about Prajwal Revanna," Suraj Revanna told reporters here.
On an FIR being registered against his father H D Revanna too, he said, "Let them put a thousand more (FIRs), what has to be proved will ultimately get proved. People of our taluk and district know what Revanna is. I don't want to react."
"Anyone can do anything out of political malice. If you take Hassan politics, there is no competitor for Revanna. There is no one who has done politics like him. To weaken him, all these conspiracies are being hatched," he added.
Scores of explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna had started making the rounds in Hassan recently. The state government has constituted an SIT to probe the alleged sex scandal involving the MP.
The SIT on Tuesday issued notice to Prajwal Revanna and his father Revanna, who have been booked for alleged sexual harassment at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district on April 28, based on a complaint by a woman who worked in their house, directing them to appear for investigation.
Prajwal who reportedly left for Germany on April 27, the very next day of the polls, on Wednesday sought seven days' time to appear before the SIT.
Regarding reports of his meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Suraj said they were mere speculations and that he had met the former in January, and after that no such meeting had taken place.
Asked whether JD(S) leaders and workers seem to be in some sort of confusion following the developments around the alleged sex scandal, the MLC said there is no confusion. "Even yesterday there were meetings held to take stock of the situation after the polls. Hundred percent Prajwal Revanna will win."
"Let anyone charge anything, let's wait and see what comes out of the SIT probe," he added.
Meanwhile, victims in the videos of the alleged sex scandal involving the MP, are reportedly refusing to come before the SIT which is probing the case.
Some of the victims are said to have told the SIT officials that they don't want to talk to them about the case, while a few are not reachable, sources said.
