Age is not an issue for contesting: Eshwarappa

Mangaluru: The party has never said that persons above 75 years of age should not contest elections, claimed former deputy chief minister and BJP leader KS Eshwarappa.
Amid speculations that he may not get a chance to contest the upcoming assembly election because of his age, Eshwarappa who was in Mangaluru as part of BJP’s Vijayasankalpa Yatra told reporters on Monday, “BJP will form the next government by winning 150 seats whether I’m an MLA or not,” he said.
In the wake of corruption charges against him, as well as BJP contemplating on dropping a few sitting MLAs and not fielding those aged above 75, the 74- year-old BJP leader said the party has nowhere said that it will not give tickets to those who have crossed 75 years of age. “Horatti is 77 years old. He was welcomed into the party and made legislative council chairman. People assume that our party does not field those above 75 years of age but it is not in the BJP constitution. If they ask me to contest, I will. I need not be a legislator to serve people,” he said. He also said BJP is conducting a survey in all 224 assembly segments. “Based on a few yardsticks like winnability and their commitment to party ideology, the Central leaders will decide on the candidates,” he said.
On chances of his son getting a ticket, Eshwarappa said, “Has he descended from heaven? Party might give the ticket to me or my son. I have heard that the party will not give two tickets to one family.”
Continuing his attack on Congress, Eshwarappa accused Siddaramaiah government of being involved in 56 scams. “Due to the pandemic and floods, we could not do anything. Sooner or later, we will expose them and send them behind bars. A judicial probe into Arkavathy layout scam has revealed that Siddaramaiah looted Rs 8,000 crore. To cover up their scams, they are making baseless allegations on us,” he said.