Bangalore: "Yes, I will resign" - BS Yeddyurappa putting in writing what the BJP leadership had been demanding for the last couple of days. After 48 hours employed by the Chief Minister to demonstrate his grip on the BJP in Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa, on Saturday, allowed cameras to film him signing off on his resignation letter. (Watch: Rise and fall of Yeddyurappa)
The embattled chief minister has sent in his resignation to party president Nitin Gadkari. Mr Yeddyurappa, sources say, will formally resign as the chief minister of Karnataka at 3:30 pm today.
But the veteran leader, who has weathered many a political storm, decided to go out with a show of strength - sending three bus-load of his supporters yesterday to reiterate the demands that he had for the high command:
Yeddyurappa reportedly favours Sadananda Gowda, the former state party president and a non-controversial man with apparently no enemies. He is not a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa, but a Vokkaliga - another dominant group in Karnataka.
His second choice is VS Acharya, the state's former Home Minister who has put his foot in his mouth several times but who is an absolute Yeddyurappa loyalist. He is a Brahmin and currently holds the higher education portfolio. Also in the line is Suresh Kumar, Mr Clean of the BJP in Karnataka - a welcome note in the light of corruption allegations claiming Yeddyurappa. Suresh Kumar is presently the Law Minister. (Pics: After Yeddyurappa who?)
Surrounded by MLAs who professed no other leader was acceptable to them, Mr Yeddyurappa kept the BJP hanging. He suggested he would resign on Sunday - for astrological reasons. That deadline allowed the 68-year-old to try some emergency moves aimed at saving his job. But on Saturday, his party told him his time was up. If he didn't resign, the BJP said, it was willing to risk the entire government being dismantled for President's Rule, if it came to that. (Read: Justice Hegde's report on illegal mining)
For now, at least, the apparent face-off between Yeddyurappa and his followers and the party leadership does seem to be over. None too soon for the BJP. For the last two days, the BJP had only two destinations in Bangalore - one was the residence of their party's first-ever South Indian chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa and the other a five star hotel where Central leaders had set up camp.
The constant shuttling between the two venues finally seemed to pay off - as the BJP hopes that with Yeddyurappa's departure, their government in Karnataka will last out the full five years.
The embattled chief minister has sent in his resignation to party president Nitin Gadkari. Mr Yeddyurappa, sources say, will formally resign as the chief minister of Karnataka at 3:30 pm today.
But the veteran leader, who has weathered many a political storm, decided to go out with a show of strength - sending three bus-load of his supporters yesterday to reiterate the demands that he had for the high command:
- He wants to be state party president - but that wish may not come true
- He wants a person of his choice to become the next chief minister - but above all he does not want his old rival Ananth Kumar to get the job. The BJP may give in to these requests.
His second choice is VS Acharya, the state's former Home Minister who has put his foot in his mouth several times but who is an absolute Yeddyurappa loyalist. He is a Brahmin and currently holds the higher education portfolio. Also in the line is Suresh Kumar, Mr Clean of the BJP in Karnataka - a welcome note in the light of corruption allegations claiming Yeddyurappa. Suresh Kumar is presently the Law Minister. (Pics: After Yeddyurappa who?)
Surrounded by MLAs who professed no other leader was acceptable to them, Mr Yeddyurappa kept the BJP hanging. He suggested he would resign on Sunday - for astrological reasons. That deadline allowed the 68-year-old to try some emergency moves aimed at saving his job. But on Saturday, his party told him his time was up. If he didn't resign, the BJP said, it was willing to risk the entire government being dismantled for President's Rule, if it came to that. (Read: Justice Hegde's report on illegal mining)
For now, at least, the apparent face-off between Yeddyurappa and his followers and the party leadership does seem to be over. None too soon for the BJP. For the last two days, the BJP had only two destinations in Bangalore - one was the residence of their party's first-ever South Indian chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa and the other a five star hotel where Central leaders had set up camp.
The constant shuttling between the two venues finally seemed to pay off - as the BJP hopes that with Yeddyurappa's departure, their government in Karnataka will last out the full five years.
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