Expelled BJP leader and Independent candidate for the Shimoga Lok Sabha seat, K.S. Eshwarappa, filed a complaint with the Election Commission on Tuesday against his BJP rival, B.Y. Raghavendra, and demanded his arrest. Eshwarappa informed the media that Raghavendra, the son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, had released a fake video on May 6, the day before the Lok Sabha election. The video falsely showed Eshwarappa withdrawing his candidature from the election.
"The video portrays that I am campaigning for Raghavendra this time, using footage from the previous general election," he said, as per a report on IANS.
Eshwarappa stated that Raghavendra, fearing defeat in the Lok Sabha election, had released the fake video, which featured photos of Eshwarappa alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that it was a betrayal of democracy and there was no connection between the present election and the fake video. He said, "I will never make such a mistake of supporting Raghavendra in my life. I had feared this propaganda. I contested as an independent candidate to liberate the party from the clutches of a family."
Eshwarappa alleged that the video falsely claimed he had withdrawn his candidature and endorsed Raghavendra's election bid, labeling it a conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the former minister claimed to be aware of Muslims voting unanimously to remove Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, while expressing criticism that Hindus were diverting their focus on caste-related matters instead of consolidating their support, as per a report on Deccan Herald.
Earlier, BJP expelled KS Eshwarappa for 6 years due to his decision to contest as an independent candidate in Lok Sabha election.
Eshwarappa had announced his decision to contest as an Independent candidate in the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka. This decision came after his son, Kanthesh, was denied a BJP ticket from the Haveri seat.