Karnataka elections 2018: KS Eshwarappa, BJP, Shivamogga

Veteran BJP leader KS Eshwarappa, a political rival of Yeddyurappa, is contesting from Shivamogga.

KS Eshwarappa is leader of opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council. The 69-year old veteran politician has held cabinet positions in previous BJP governments in the state and served as the deputy chief minister in the Jagadish Shettar-lead government from 2012 to 2013.

BJP leader KS Eshwarappa (Kashif Masood / Hindustan Times)

Eshwarappa started out as a protégé of BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, but they are now political rivals.

The BJP’s decision to field Eshwarappa from Shivamogga City constituency was seen as an attempt to end the rift between him and Yeddyurappa, who wanted to field his loyalist from the seat. For Eshwarappa, the 2018 elections are crucial since he lost the 2013 polls by a huge margin.