Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa broke down today in the state assembly and announced his resignation, ending weeks of speculation raised by unrelenting calls for his removal by a section of the BJP in the state.
“I have decided to resign. I will meet the Governor after lunch,” Mr Yediyurappa, 78, declared in a tearful speech in which he talked about being tested constantly in the two years of his fourth term – possibly his last, given the BJP’s age limit of 75 years for posts.
The resignation was widely anticipated but Mr Yediyurappa kept everyone guessing till yesterday. The BJP has grown significantly in Karnataka, he said, before adding that, “It has always been an agnipariksha (trial by fire) for me. These last two years it was COVID”. Mr Yediyurappa had dropped big hints about his exit on Sunday, mentioning that he could do so anytime.
Last week, there were many appeals to the BJP in his favour – party loyalists, priests and influential members of his Lingayat community, including an opposition Congress leader. On Sunday evening, CM Yediyurappa told that he had heard “nothing till now” from the BJP. “Nothing has come till now… In the morning there is a programme to mark two years of government. I will speak about the achievements in those two years. After that, you will know the progress,” CM Yediyurappa said.
“I have decided that I will work till the very last minute. I already said two months ago that I was ready to resign whenever I was asked to. I will say it again – until now I have got no message from the centre. As soon as it comes, if they ask me to continue I will. If not, I will resign and work for that party,” he said.
The buzz about his exit, an undercurrent in Karnataka for months now amid resentment against Mr Yediyurappa and his son, became louder when he suddenly flew to Delhi by chartered flight earlier this month to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. After his meeting with PM Modi, Mr Yediyurappa said he had not been asked to resign. Days later, he said he was ready to resign whenever he was asked to.
He later tweeted a tribute to his party and its top leaders.
Our tallest leaders, starting from Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyayaji, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Atalji, Advaniji, Murali Manohar Joshiji have inspired me to dedicate myself to serve the nation. I have also received immense love and support of Modiji, Amit Shahji and Naddaji.
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) July 26, 2021
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