Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called former Karnataka minister K S Eshwarappa and praised his dedication to the party and expressed his happiness with him, drawing fire from the Congress that said “the prime minister has no problem with corruption”. “You have demonstrated your commitment to the party. I am very happy with you. So, I decided to talk to you,” Modi was heard saying in a video shared by the former Deputy Chief Minister on social media. The PM also told Eshwarappa he would meet him whenever he visits poll-bound Karnataka. The phone conversation between the PM and Eshwrappa came a day after the BJP did not field the former minister’s son from the Shivamogga Assembly seat and did not give him a seat either. Eshwarappa had to step down from the government last year after being accused of corruption in the wake of a contractor’s suicide. After he was left out of the candidate list, the former minister informed the BJP central leadership of his desire to retire from electoral politics. He also requested that his son K E Kantesh be fielded from Shivamogga. But the party denied that request too and gave the ticket to Channabasappa instead, a decision Eshwarappa publicly accepted without complaint. During the conversation, the former minister told the PM that the BJP would win the Assembly polls, including in Shivamogga. After the video of the PM’s conversation with Eshwarappa went viral, the Congress took to Twitter to hit out at the BJP. “This man is accused of demanding 40 per cent commission and was forced to resign over corruption charges after BJP worker Santosh Patil committed suicide. By praising such corrupt leaders, the BJP is sending a clear message that it endorses corruption and illegal activities,” it added. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, “This proves the remarks of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik that ‘the prime minister has no problem with corruption’.” He added, “It is a sad day for India's democracy. PM Modi has put his stamp on 40 per cent corruption. He has conveyed that lives don't matter to the BJP. The PM called up BJP leader Eshwarappa for not rebelling.” The 74-year-old Eshwarappa, a Kuruba leader, is known for his controversial statements. He is a five-time MLA from Shivamogga and has held various portfolios when in the government. Eshwarappa quit as the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister in April 2022 after a contractor Santosh Patil killed himself a year ago in a hotel room in Udupi. In his suicide note, Patil accused Eshwrappa of demanding a 40% commission for awarding civil works in Belagavi. A few months later, the police exonerated Eshwarappa and he demanded that he be given a ministerial berth. But the party ignored his request.
