Vijayendra Seeks to Mend Ties with Eshwarappa Ahead of 2028 Karnataka Assembly Polls

Bengaluru, Oct 10 (UNI): BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra is reportedly reaching out to suspended party leader K S Eshwarappa to resolve differences and explore the possibility of his return to the party ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.

According to political circles, Vijayendra recently met Eshwarappa's son, K E Kantesh, in Bengaluru and is said to have urged him to persuade his father to reconcile with the party leadership.

The reported meeting has triggered speculation about a possible move to revoke Eshwarappa's suspension. However, neither the meeting nor any decision regarding his reinstatement has been officially confirmed by the BJP or Eshwarappa.

Eshwarappa was suspended from the BJP after rebelling against the party leadership and contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate from Shivamogga against the BJP's official nominee, B Y Raghavendra, son of veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa.

His rebellion stemmed from differences with the state leadership over the denial of a Lok Sabha ticket to his son, Kantesh, from the Haveri constituency.

A former minister and prominent BJP leader in Karnataka, Eshwarappa has maintained an independent political profile and remained associated with the party's Hindutva platform. Any reconciliation would require the leadership to address the issues that led to his suspension and determine his future role in the organisation.

The reported outreach comes amid broader efforts within the BJP to strengthen its organisational structure and manage internal dissent ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Eshwarappa's possible return could also involve discussions concerning his son's political future. However, no formal assurance regarding Kantesh's prospects within the party has been confirmed.

Meanwhile, political circles are abuzz with speculation that JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy is exploring the possibility of bringing back some former party leaders who joined the Congress.

The reported move comes as political parties in Karnataka begin positioning themselves for the 2028 Assembly elections. However, the identities of the leaders concerned and the nature of the alleged discussions remain unclear.

There has been no official confirmation from the BJP or Eshwarappa regarding the reported reconciliation efforts.