Tumakuru: With the 2023 State Assembly and 2024 parliamentary elections around the corner, political activities are heating up in the State. After former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa announced that he is vacating his constituency for his son B. Y. Vijayendra, another BJP leader has also announced his retirement from electoral politics.

G. S. Basavaraj, a BJP MP from Tumakuru announced his retirement from electoral politics.

It can be recalled that he defeated former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda in the 2019 Lok Sabha election at Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency.

“I am now 84 years old. Considering my age, party will not give ticket to me. So, I decided to quit the electoral politics,” he said.

However, he made it clear that if H. D. Deve Gowda contests from the constituency again, he will contest just to defeat Gowda. “I am ready even to contest as an independent candidate,” he said.