Bangalore: Karnataka Rural Development Minister KS Eshwarappa has resigned amid allegations of bribery. The resignation comes at the end of days of austerity and opposition protests. The move by the central leadership to force the resignation of the minister will further cut the BJP.
Ishwarappa’s resignation comes with the announcement that he will not create a crisis for the BJP leadership and the government. The resignation letter was handed over at the official residence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The BJP is pushing for Eshwarappa’s resignation with the assurance that Union ministers and the party’s central leadership will be caught up in the bribery scandal. But the resignation and Ishwarappa’s reactions will further erode the central leadership.
Groups within the BJP were also outspoken in Ishwarappa’s response. The resignation of the leader from the OBC faction will create a crisis for the BJP in next year’s assembly elections as well.
The bribery scandal that rocked the BJP leadership erupted following the suicide of Santosh Patil, a contractor in Balagavi. Earlier, BJP activist Santosh Patil had said that Ishwarappa had demanded a 40 percent commission on the road works bill when it came to change.
Santosh, a BJP activist, committed suicide by sending a letter to the Prime Minister.
This is not the first time Ishwarappa has been involved in controversy. Eshwarappa was hacked in response to the change of the tricolor flag and saffron flag at Red Fort.
This time, following the news of the bribery, the Opposition staged a huge protest demanding Ishwarappa’s resignation. Opposition groups called for the beleaguered PM to resign.
