BS Yediyurappa resigns as Karnataka CM, vows to work for party in state

BENGALURU: Ending months of speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka, chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday announced his resignation in an emotional speech during an event to commemorate two years of his government in the state.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted Yediyurappa’s resignation and asked him to continue as caretaker chief minister till the next CM is sworn in.

The Lingayat strongman’s decision to step aside sets the stage for a new era in Karnataka politics and for BJP in particular as the party’s fortunes so far have been wedded to BSY’s rise in the southern state.
Hours after he resigned, the BJP high command announced a team of observers led by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to head to Bengaluru who will oversee a meeting of the legislature party to elect the next chief minister. Senior party sources indicated the choice will from the current crop of legislators.
“The parliamentary board of BJP will decide the next CM on Tuesday and later it will be announced in the legislature party meeting,” BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh said in Delhi.
None pressured me to resign: Yediyurappa
It is yet to be known who will succeed the veteran Lingayat leader with several names doing the rounds and most of the party’s senior leadership in the state throwing their hats into the ring. Choosing a successor will be a test as influential Lingayat mutts have protested BSY’s resignation, and the community is key to BJP’s electoral strength in the state.
But the BJP high command seems to have succeeded in co-opting Yediyurappa’s support for his successor and staved off the possibility of a miffed ex-CM playing spoilsport by sulking on the sidelines . TOI had reported the impending change of guard in its edition dated July 18.
Speculation is rife that names from the Lingayat community as well as non-Lingayats who have strong Hindutva leanings are being considered. Among Lingayats, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad and Basavaraj Bommai are being mentioned; BL Santosh, Visveshwara Hedge Kageri and CT Ravi are some other names doing the rounds.
Yediyurappa said, “Nobody pressured me to resign. I did it on my own so that someone else can take over as CM after the completion of two years of government. I’ll work to bring BJP back in power in the next election. I've not given the name of anyone who should succeed me.”
He also assured that he and his supporters would give their 100% to whoever is the next chief minister.