Yediyurappa said he was announcing his resignation happily

Yediyurappa said he was announcing his resignation happily

Yediyurappa said he was announcing his resignation happily

Putting an end to days of speculation on his future, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday announced his resignation.

Monday marked the second anniversary of the current BJP government's ascension to power, after the Congress-JD(S) coalition collapsed on July 26.

In his resignation announcement, Yediyurappa said, "… I have already decided that post-lunch, I will go to Raj Bhavan and tender my resignation to the governor. I am announcing my resignation happily. I cannot express in words my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, [Home Minister] Amit Shah and [BJP chief] J.P. Nadda for reposing faith in me and allowing me to serve as the CM these two years though I had crossed 75 years”. Yediyurappa announced his resignation at the ‘Sadhana Samavesha’, an event to mark the completion of two years of BJP rule in the state.

Yediyurappa, considered the tallest leader of the BJP in south India, is credited with leading the saffron party to power in Karnataka. But he has never completed a full five years in office in any of his four stints as chief minister.

Yediyurappa first became chief minister in 2007 when the BJP and JD(S) formed a coalition government. However, his first stint as chief minister, as part of a 'rotation' arrangement with the JD(S), lasted barely a week as the JD(S) withdrew support.

In 2008, Yediyurappa led the BJP to its first big election victory as the party banked on a 'sympathy wave' and came to power.

However, Yediyurappa had to resign in 2011 after being accused of corruption. After the 2018 election threw up a fractured mandate with the BJP as the single-largest party, Yediyurappa was sworn in as chief minister, but his third stint lasted just three days as the BJP was unable to muster enough support.

(With inputs from Prathima Nandakumar)

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