At a two-year celebration of his government, today Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa announced his resignation. This announcement ends the weeks of speculation floating around regarding calls for his removal by a BJP section in the state. On Monday, BS Yediyurappa (78) was seen breaking down on the stage from where he made the announcement of his resignation. Yediyurappa denied leaving the BJP and said he would continue to serve the party as a worker.Meanwhile, the BJP has decided to send a team of observers to Bengaluru who will convene the legislative party meeting to elect the next chief minister. Until then, BS Yediyurappa will continue to serve as caretaker chief minister of Karnataka.The BJP high command wants fresh faces in the renewed Karnataka Cabinet, sources told India Today. This means that a number of senior ministers could be dropped from the state Cabinet. The BJP’s central leadership is also likely to replace at least two of the three deputy chief ministers in Karnataka – Govind Karajol, Ashwath Narayan and Laxman Sangappa Savadi.A BJP MLA hailing from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community could be appointed as a deputy chief minister to Yediyurappa’s successor.
BJP national general secretary in charge of Karnataka and Rajasthan, Arun Singh, is slated to arrive in Bengaluru on Tuesday to stand in as a central observer. He could be accompanied by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Arun Singh told media outlets earlier on Monday that the BJP’s parliamentary board would take the final call on who will succeed Yediyurappa as chief minister of Karnataka.According to sources, no BJP MLA or minister has been summoned to New Delhi by the party high command as of yet.
Speaking on the resignation of BS Yediyurappa as Karnataka chief minister, former CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah said, “There is no benefit for the common man if one corrupt CM is removed to make another corrupt as CM. Instead the whole BJP party, which is responsible for the miseries of people, should be ousted.”
Acting with full conscience
Addressing the media after submitting his resignation to the Governor, BS Yediyurappa said, “No pressure from (BJP) high command. I myself resigned. I’ve submitted it voluntarily.”
Yediyurappa denied on reports on becoming a Governor and he would continue to work as a BJP worker. “I want to thank the (Lingayat) seers who supported,” he said, urging the Lingayat seers to support the next Karnataka CM.
BS Yediyurappa reached Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to submit his resignation as the Karnataka chief minister. The Governor has accepted his resignation.
Addressing the Vidhan Soudha, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, “I’ve gone through agni pariksha always. For two months (in 2019) I didn’t get to make my Cabinet. There were floods and I roamed like a mad man. Later the Cabinet was formed.”
