Despite all eyes being on his impending resignation from the post of Karnataka chief minister, B.S. Yediyurappa is yet to reveal when he will finally step down.
Yediyurappa had revealed last week he would receive the "decision" of the BJP high command (alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda) by July 25, and he would resume his "new assignment on July 26 onwards".
Yediyurappa had left for Belagavi on Sunday to take stock of damage from floods in the district. Speaking to mediapersons at mid-day on Sunday, Yediyurappa was quoted by The Times of India as saying, "I'm expecting suggestions from high command by evening; you (media) will also come to know what it will be."
Interestingly, when asked about the possibility of a dalit replacing him as chief minister, Yediyurappa replied, "High command will decide about it; I'm not concerned about it (on appointing dalit CM)."
The buzz about a dalit chief minister had emerged on Saturday after former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah challenged the BJP to appoint a person from the scheduled castes. "If at all the BJP Karnataka president (Nalin Kumar Kateel) has a concern about dalits, his party should pick a dalit leader as the next CM of Karnataka after Yediyurappa’s resignation... As a person who speaks a lot about social justice, he (Kateel) should immediately take steps to appoint a dalit leader as the next CM,” Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
There had been speculation the Lingayat community religious leaders would back Yediyurappa to continue as chief minister as they voiced opposition to him being removed. Referring to this, Siddaramaiah said, "Religious leaders should not get themselves involved in politicking as the opinion of the people is all that matters in politics. None from any math (Lingayat religious mutts) should interfere in the internal affairs of any party.”
