Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa has resigned from his cabinet post after being embroiled in a major scandal involving allegations of corruption and a role in the suicide of a contractor.
After three days of political uncertainty and drama, veteran BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa and Karnataka Minister Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) submitted his resignation on Friday to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai as the controversy over his role in the suicide of a contractor and allegations of corruption snowballed.
As Mr. Eshwarappa submitted his resignation to Mr. Bommai at the latter’s official residence, crowds of his supporters gathered outside and shouted slogans opposing his resignation. They also shouted slogans against Congress leaders who had sought the BJP leader’s resignation over his role in the death of Santosh K. Patil.
Mr Eshwarappa has denied any link with the contractor’s death.
“This is suicide or a murder. This needs to be probed. There is no mistake of Eshwarappa. The guilty must be found and be punished, If this is murder, then the murderers need to be brought to justice. If there’s even one per cent guilt in this matter, my family goddess will punish me,” he added.
Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar on Thursday called for Eshwarappa’s arrest, saying that resignation was not enough. “Resignation is not a solution. A case of corruption has to be registered, then he has to be arrested,” he said. CM Bommai said there was no need for the Opposition to become an investigation officer or judge in the case. Accusing the Congress of hypocrisy, Bommai added, “Was K J George (Minister during Congress rule who was blamed by a police officer before committing suicide) arrested by the Congress government? Neither the Karnataka police nor the CBI had arrested him, despite the NDA government at the Centre. Police will decide if they need to arrest or not.”
Meanwhile, former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi claimed on Thursday that a group of people, including “a Mahanayak”, involved in a 2021 attempt at framing him in a rape case were behind the contractor’s death. “I will be holding a press conference on Monday and I will expose details of what happened in the lead up to the death of Santhosh Patil. The same team that was involved in my case is involved in this conspiracy against Eshwarappa. We will discuss with the party high command and speak,” the BJP MLA said in Belagavi after visiting Patil’s family to offer condolences.
