Bangalore: BS Yeddyurappa has finally resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Flanked by nearly 70 MLAs, Mr Yeddyurappa walked to the Raj Bhavan this evening to meet Governor HR Bhardwaj and handed over his resignation. Minutes later, a Raj Bhavan statement said the resignation has been accepted and a notification was issued.
Addressing the media soon after, Mr Yeddyurappa said, "As a disciplined leader of the party, I have stepped down as the Chief Minister. I served as CM for three years and two months; MLAs, MPs gave me full support during this period. I do hope and believe that my successor will also get the same support."
The new Chief Minister will take the state forward, he added.
Mr Yeddyurappa and his choice for the next Chief Minister, Sadananda Gowda, are meeting central BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley right now. Sources have told NDTV that Mr Gowda is the frontrunner for the top job. In fact, one of the main conditions that Mr yeddyurappa set for stepping down was to have his candidate take over from him.
Mr Gowda, a non-controversial man and a known Yeddyurappa loyalist, is almost certain to replace him as the next chief minister. He is not a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa, but a Vokkaliga - another dominant group in Karnataka.
Mr Yeddyurappa's exit came after he and his family were strongly indicted by Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde in his report on illegal mining on Wednesday. The report kicked up a political furore with the BJP finally deciding that Yeddyurappa's continuance as Chief Minister had become untenable. (Read: Justice Hegde's report on illegal mining)
Earlier in the day, Mr Yeddyurappa's resignation was preceded by high drama when he suddenly put forward another condition - that the BJP announces the name of his successor before he demits the office of the Karnataka Chief Minister. The BJP, on the other hand, wanted him to resign before announcing the name of the new Chief Minister. (Watch: Rise and fall of Yeddyurappa)
Mr Yeddyurappa had sent his resignation to party president Nitin Gadkari earlier this morning.
Mr Yeddyurappa also attended his last public function as Chief Minister today where he announced his decision to quit and said he will continue working for the party.
"My dream was to make Karnataka the best state in the country. I will not rest from that aim even for a day. I am giving my resignation today. From tomorrow I will continue to work for the party," Yeddyurappa said.
"I was an ordinary party worker. I never dreamed of becoming the Chief Minister. The affection of the people put me in this chair. I worked sincerely and I am satisfied that in the last three years, the state had developed," he added.
Mr Yeddyurappa also struck an emotional chord with the people at the felicitation function saying, "It was like my arms and legs were tied. I am going to Raj Bhavan happily now without any pain in my heart. From tomorrow I can tour the state freely."
Addressing the media soon after, Mr Yeddyurappa said, "As a disciplined leader of the party, I have stepped down as the Chief Minister. I served as CM for three years and two months; MLAs, MPs gave me full support during this period. I do hope and believe that my successor will also get the same support."
The new Chief Minister will take the state forward, he added.
Mr Yeddyurappa and his choice for the next Chief Minister, Sadananda Gowda, are meeting central BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley right now. Sources have told NDTV that Mr Gowda is the frontrunner for the top job. In fact, one of the main conditions that Mr yeddyurappa set for stepping down was to have his candidate take over from him.
Mr Gowda, a non-controversial man and a known Yeddyurappa loyalist, is almost certain to replace him as the next chief minister. He is not a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa, but a Vokkaliga - another dominant group in Karnataka.
Mr Yeddyurappa's exit came after he and his family were strongly indicted by Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde in his report on illegal mining on Wednesday. The report kicked up a political furore with the BJP finally deciding that Yeddyurappa's continuance as Chief Minister had become untenable. (Read: Justice Hegde's report on illegal mining)
Earlier in the day, Mr Yeddyurappa's resignation was preceded by high drama when he suddenly put forward another condition - that the BJP announces the name of his successor before he demits the office of the Karnataka Chief Minister. The BJP, on the other hand, wanted him to resign before announcing the name of the new Chief Minister. (Watch: Rise and fall of Yeddyurappa)
Mr Yeddyurappa had sent his resignation to party president Nitin Gadkari earlier this morning.
Mr Yeddyurappa also attended his last public function as Chief Minister today where he announced his decision to quit and said he will continue working for the party.
"My dream was to make Karnataka the best state in the country. I will not rest from that aim even for a day. I am giving my resignation today. From tomorrow I will continue to work for the party," Yeddyurappa said.
"I was an ordinary party worker. I never dreamed of becoming the Chief Minister. The affection of the people put me in this chair. I worked sincerely and I am satisfied that in the last three years, the state had developed," he added.
Mr Yeddyurappa also struck an emotional chord with the people at the felicitation function saying, "It was like my arms and legs were tied. I am going to Raj Bhavan happily now without any pain in my heart. From tomorrow I can tour the state freely."
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