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BS Yediyurappa resigns as Chief Minister of Karnataka and breaks down

BANGALORE: Ending weeks of speculation over his continuation as the party chief, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa today broke down as he announced his resignation on a day that also marks the two-year celebration of his government. 

Earlier in the day 78 years old Yediyurappa, declared in a tearful speech in the Vidhan Sabha premises, "I have decided to resign. I will meet the Governor after lunch."

Latter, Yediyurappa submitted his resignation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlotyear he will continue to remain as caretaker chief minister as his party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks out for a replacement which could be in the next few days.

On the question of putting in his papers under owing to pressure from within the party and central leadership, the veteran leader said, "Nobody pressured me to resign, I did it on my own so that someone else can take over as chief minister after the completion of two years of government."

In his speech, he said thanked all the old leaders of his party, "When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister he asked me to be a minister at the centre. But I said I will be in Karnataka."

Yediyurappa, however, spoke about being constantly tested in the two years of his fourth term, given the BJP's age limit of 75 years for posts. "It has always been an agnipariksha (trial by fire) for me and in these last two years especially it was Covid," he said.

He made it clear that he was not retiring, he said, "I am not retiring, and I will work till the last minute. I will be working on the ground to bring BJP back in power in the next election."

Although in closed circles, the renewed demand for his exit was gaining momentum for months now amid resentment against Yediyurppa and his son who according to many was allegedly interfering in the administrative work.

As the buzz became louder Yediyurappa was summoned to Delhi by a chartered flight earlier this month to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders including J P Nadda and Amit Shah. 

The main opposition party, Congress however said that the resignation of Yediyurappa as Karnataka CM is both a testament to the flagrant corruption carried out by BJP in the state and proof that PM Modi's slogans like "na khaunga, na khane dunga" are merely catchy phrases, not promises he can uphold.

Yediyurappa became the CM in 2019 after a dramatic coup that saw the Janata Dal Secular and Congress alliance government falling after the resignations of 17 rebel MLA's. These rebels later joined the BJP and contested elections and won and were accommodated in Yediyurappa's cabinet.


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