Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: List of BJP leaders to join Congress, JD(S)

While the exodus has particularly jolted the saffron party’s headquarters in the national capital Delhi, apparently, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa amid rumors of a feud.

Speculations about Eshwarappa quitting the BJP began after the former leader quit electoral politics, informed the BJP headquarters about it, and sought a ticket for his son KE Kantesh in the Shivamogga constituency.

The BJP released three lists in which several former leaders were denied tickets, however, Vijayendra, son of Lingayat community leader BS Yeddyurappa, was allotted a ticket by the BJP to contest from the same seat where his father was.

List of leaders who left BJP in Karnataka:

Jagdish ShettarFormer Karnataka Chief Minister resigns after being denied ticket by BJP Hubli-Dharwad Central Constituency

Laxman Savadi: Former deputy chief minister Savadi Athani was expected to contest the election on a ticket from the constituency. He resigned as a member of the Legislative Council of the BJP and also left the party after being denied a ticket.

S. Angara: Angara is a six-time MLA from Sulia constituency in Dakshina Kannada district. He has also been the Fisheries Minister of Karnataka. He announced his retirement from politics a day after he was denied a ticket by the BJP.

R Shankar: BJP MLC Shankar resigned from the Legislative Council a day after the BJP denied him a ticket to contest the elections. Shankar was one of the 17 opposition MLAs who helped the BJP bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019.

MP Kumaraswamy: Mudigere BJP MLA Kumaraswamy Announced his resignation from BJP. He held National General Secretary CT Ravi responsible for the non-nomination. He has now joined JD(S).

Vishwanath Patil Hebballa: The three-time MLA from Chittapur constituency also submitted his resignation after being denied a ticket.

Raghupati Bhat: BJP denied ticket to Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat. He was replaced by Yashpal Suvarna, who enjoys strong support among the party cadre with his campaign for cow protection.

MLC Iyer Manjunath: A senior Lingayat leader from Shivamogga district, Manjunath announced his resignation as MLC and also from the primary membership of the party. Meanwhile, the JD(S) has already declared Manjunath as its candidate from the Shivamogga City constituency.