Veteran BJP leader KS Eshwarappa categorically said on Tuesday that he would not contest the upcoming Karnataka assembly polls to be held on 10 May.
In a letter to BJP president JP Nadda, Mr Eshwarappa declared, “I am quitting electoral politics.”
He went on to say that “over the past 40 years, the party has given me a lot of responsibilities.” I rose from being a booth-in-charge to state party chief. He expressed this in a brief letter in Kannada. He further added, “I also had the privilege of becoming Deputy Chief Minister.” He said that it was his own decision.
Mr Eshwarappa may have done this as a preventative measure after hinting last month that he would not be a contender.
He will be 75 this June, and he slammed the unofficial age bar that is set by the BJP party to contest elections and hold posts.
In recent times, the senior leader has been in controversy due to his controversial statements.
Last month, he raised his voice over Azaan from mosques’ loudspeakers, asking whether “Allah is deaf” and needs loudspeakers to hear.