Congress deems it a sign of PM Modi "condoning corruption", citing Eshwarappa's ouster from Cabinet following a contractor's suicide.
Published Apr 21, 2023 | 3:56 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 21, 2023 | 3:56 PM
"You have demonstrated your commitment to the party. I am very happy with you," Modi is heard saying on the video. (Screengrab/Twitter)
It would have been another sulky day for KS Eshwarappa over his son Kantesh losing out on a BJP ticket had it not been for a special phone call on Friday, 21 April.
Days after his son Kantesh was denied a ticket to contest from Eshwarappa’s incumbent seat of Shivamogga in the upcoming 10 May Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Eshwarappa over a phone call.
In a video of Eshwarappa speaking to Modi over the phone, released deliberately, the prime minister is heard lauding him and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa for proving their integrity to the party.
The show of outreach and appreciation comes at a time when two leaders from the dominant Lingayat community — Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi — have quit the BJP and joined the Congress after being denied tickets.
KS Eshwarappa, a popular Kuruba face in Shivamogga, was keen on contesting once again, but announced his retirement from electoral politics after he was asked to do so by party leaders — and in hope of securing a ticket for his son instead, like BS Yediyurappa has done for BY Vijayendra in Shikaripura.
However, the BJP passed over Kantesh and gave the ticket to Lingayat candidate and party hardliner KS Channabasappa.
“You have demonstrated your commitment to the party. I am very happy with you. So, I decided to talk to you,” Modi is heard saying in the video.
Modi is also heard saying that he will meet KS Eshwarappa whenever he next visits poll-bound Karnataka. In reply, Eshwarappa told the prime minister that the BJP will win the upcoming election.
ದೇಶದ ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ನರೇಂದ್ರ ಮೋದಿಜಿ ಅವರು ಸನ್ಮಾನ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೆಎಸ್ ಈಶ್ವರಪ್ಪನವರಿಗೆ ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯಂತೆ ಅವರು ಕೈಗೊಂಡ ತೀರ್ಮಾನದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಸಂತಸವನ್ನು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Adevovqkzu
— S N Channabasappa (ಮೋದಿ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬ) (@chennibjp) April 21, 2023
Later, addressing reporters, Eshwarappa said, “I had no clue, even in my dream, that the prime minister will call me. His phone call has inspired me. We will win the election in the Shivamogga city. We will also make every effort to form the BJP government in Karnataka.”
The former minister also said that when party president JP Nadda and BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh called him with a request to retire from electoral politics, he did not have a second thought and quickly made his decision public.
Eshwarappa, a former deputy chief minister, had recently conveyed to the BJP central leadership his wish to retire from electoral politics. The five-time MLA from the constituency, however, is said to have sought the ticket for his son KE Kantesh from the segment.
A reluctant Eshwarappa was forced to step down as rural development and panchayat raj minister in April 2022, after a contractor — Santosh Patil — died by suicide, accusing Eshwarappa of collecting 40 percent commission on public works in Belagavi. A probe later gave him a clean chit.
A combative Congress deemed Prime Minister Modi’s phone call to Eshwarappa a sign of him “condoning corruption”.
Addressing the media, AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-Charge Randeep Surjewala accused the prime minister of “putting a stamp of approval on corruption”.
It is a sad day for India's democracy.
PM Modi has put his stamp on 40% corruption. He has conveyed that lives don't matter to the BJP.
The PM called up BJP leader Eshwarappa for not rebelling. Eshwarappa is accused of demanding a 40% commission and was forced to resign over… pic.twitter.com/qW1qpBlRzU
— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) April 21, 2023
“Today, the prime minister, through his conduct and conversation, has proved that he actually doesn’t have much of a problem with corruption. We demand an explanation!” Surjewala said.
He pointing out that contractor Santhosh Patil’s family has challenged the clean chit given to KS Eshwarappa.
