Former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa has expressed hope that the BJP State unit will be “cleansed”, in the backdrop of changes in the party’s office-bearers at the national level.

Responding to a question at a press conference in Shivamogga on Tuesday (August 18), Mr. Eshwarappa said there would surely be changes in the party’s organisation in the State as well. He said he was hopeful of such changes and demanded “purification” within the party. “Changes will take place. I am hopeful of that. I have played my own role in building the party in the State,” he said.

Mr. Eshwarappa was expelled from the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election after he contested the Shivamogga constituency as an independent candidate against the party’s official candidate, B.Y. Raghavendra. Since then, he has maintained that he would not join any party other than the BJP.

Referring to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s alleged insult to the national song, Vande Mataram, Mr. Eshwarappa said the incident had upset people across the country, including several Congress leaders, some of whom had called him to express their regret. “Instead of giving lame excuses, let somebody in the Congress condemn the incident and ensure Sonia Gandhi apologises for her action,” he demanded.

Published - August 18, 2026 06:54 pm IST