Karnataka: After 2 Years in Office, Yediyurappa Quits as Chief Minister

Bengaluru: B S Yediyurappa on Monday submitted his resignation as Chief Minister  of Karnataka to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan, and said it had been accepted.

Earlier, as his government completes two years in office, the 78-year old, BJP veteran had said he would submit his resignation to the Governor post lunch.

"Don't take me otherwise, with your permission... I have decided that after lunch I will go to the Raj  Bhavan and submit my resignation as the Chief Minister to the Governor," Yediyurappa said with a choked voice, as he turned emotional.

"Not out of grief, but with happiness," he said, as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J P Nadda for giving him an opportunity to serve as Chief Minister for two years, despite completing 75 years.

There is an unwritten rule in the BJP of keeping out those above 75 years from elected offices.

The Chief Minister also said that he will work to strengthen the party and bring it back to power, as per the expectations of the central leaders.

Yediyurappa was speaking at an event organised to mark his government's two years in office at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here.

During the speech, Yediyurappa termed his tenure for two years as "trial by fire", recalling that he had to run the administration without cabinet in the initial days, followed by devastating floods and coronavirus among other issues.

On Sunday, over 500 Veerashaiva-Lingayat seers from different parts of Karnataka demanded that Yediyurappa should be allowed to continue in office.

 On a call given by Balehosur Math seer Dingaleshwara Swami, Rudramuni Swami of Tiptur and Basavakumar Swami of Chitradurga, the seers organised a conclave at the Palace Grounds and passed a resolution in favour of Yediyurappa.

Speaking on the occasion, Dingaleshwar Swami said it

was not proper to remove the chief minister.

"It is not proper to remove Yediyurappa. We have congregated here to boost the morale of the chief minister. We are neither in favour or opposed to anyone. Our sole objectiveis to see that the Chief Minister, who is doing a good work, should be allowed to continue," he added.

Let's go for polls, let people decide: Shivakumar

On Sunday, accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of having failed in its handling of the flood situation and providing compensation to those affected over the last couple of years, state Congress chief D K Shivakumar challenged the ruling party to go for polls and get a fresh mandate.

"BJP does not have the honour or capability to rule the state, they don't know how to serve the people...when there is difficulty and people are dying and are losing properties, this government has completely failed. Come let's go for polls, to give a new administration," Shivakumar said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "let's go before the people and let them decide."

The KPCC president was attacking the government, questioning its inability to give compensation to flood victims for the last two years.

Also accusing the Central government of neglecting the state with respect to providing compensation, he said, "Why did not the prime minister come (to assess the flood situation in the state), don't want, did they (centre) at least give the money? Why didn't these MPs (25 BJP MPs) go (asking for compensation), what had happened to these MPs?"

This is the fourth consecutive year that parts of Karnataka have been battered by torrential rains resulting in floods and landslides.