Basavaraj Bommai to be new Karnataka CM
Basavaraj Bommai, 61, will replace BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister of Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s legislative party decided on Tuesday, with Bommai set to be sworn in on Wednesday, two days after the 78-year-old announced his resignation at an event to commemorate two years of his government.
Bommai, a Lingayat like Yediyurappa, was minister for home affairs, law, parliamentary affairs and legislature in Yediyurappa’s council of ministers, which was dissolved on Monday, and is considered close to the former chief minister.
“The legislative party has elected Bommai ji as its chief,” announced Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was one of the two central observers for legislative party meeting held at Capital Hill, a hotel in Central Bengaluru. Union minister G Kishan Reddy was the other central observer at the meeting. “The new leader’s proposal was made by senior leader BS Yediyurappa and was supported by Govind Karjol, R Ashok, KS Eshwarappa, B Sriramulu, ST Somashekar and Poornima Srinivas,” he added.
After the announcement, Bommai said he will work towards completing the projects initiated by the former chief minister. “It is a big responsibility in the given situation… BS Yediyurappa has worked for more than 40 years to build this party. He has taken the state through two Covid-19 waves and floods. The directions given by him will help me work for the Dalits, farmers, backwards communities, women and young.”
“This (fulfilling Yediyurappa’s projects) will be a priority. Secondly, we are facing Covid-19, and floods as well. This will remain a priority as well,” Bommai said.