A couple of hours after the expiry of the deadline to withdraw the nominations, BJP Disciplinary Committee President Lingaraj Patil issued the expulsion orders to the veteran leader. It was clear the BJP could not allow itself to be seen as condoning such a major challenge to their authority.

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Eshwarappa has defied the party diktat  repeatedly in the past few weeks. He was upset with the party leadership for denying a Lok Sabha ticket to his son K E Kantesh, and came out all guns blazing against former chief minister B S Yediyurappa whom he’s dubbed a dynast for giving one son an MP’s ticket and installing the other, as the state party chief.

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His decision to contest as an independent from Shivamogga against Yediyurappa's son Raghavendra was the final red rag that irked the BJP leadership, who reportedly tried to pacify him by offering an MLC seat to his son. KSE rejected the offer.

Despite the latest setback, Eshwarappa remained defiant, declaring minutes after he was expelled that he would continue to fight against the dynastic politics of Yediyurappa, but not against the party.

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The senior BJP leader said he was expecting this action from the party for his decision to contest against Raghavendra. "I have no regrets for contesting against Raghavendra. I am confident that the people of Shivamogga will support me and elect me,” he said.

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Raghavendra, a three time MP from Shivamogga  had ewon the 2019 Lok Sabha  poll by 2.24 lakh votes against Madhu Bangarappa of the JDS.