Yediyurappa resigns as CM after a ‘trial by fire’
BENGALURU: Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa resigned as the chief minister of Karnataka on Monday, ending months of speculation due to growing dissidence within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the only southern state it has ever been in power.
The 78-year-old made the announcement in an emotional speech at an event celebrating two years in power before submitting his resignation to governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. The four-time chief minister, who battled criticism and public attacks from within his party and cabinet over the past three months, said he quit “voluntarily” and thanked the BJP.
“I’m not sad. I’m happy. I can’t thank in words PM Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda to let me be the chief minister even though I was over 75 years,” said Yediyurappa. “There is no question of political retirement for any reason, I’m with the karyakartas and the people.”
He also scotched rumours of having accepted a gubernatorial posting. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee had offered me to become the central minister when he was the PM, I had said no… There is no question of becoming governor. I will work to strengthen the organisation in Karnataka. I have not asked for any position, nor will accept it,” he said.
The resignation — which came roughly 10 days after he travelled to Delhi and met Modi and Shah — triggered speculation about his successor.
BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh said the decision was left to the party’s parliamentary board and legislature party. “I will not say now. The parliamentary board of the BJP will decide the next chief minister in the legislature party meeting,” Singh told reporters in Delhi without mentioning a date for the meeting.
But party leaders said on con