‘Rode A Bicycle Around To Strengthen BJP In Karnataka’: BS Yediyurappa Gets Teary-Eyed

Bengaluru: BS Yediyurappa resigned from the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka today amid political speculation that has been going on for several days. This is the fourth time that BS Yediyurappa resigned from the post of Chief Minister. Yediyurappa has become Chief Minister four times so far, but could never complete his five-year term.

On Monday morning, Yediyurappa partook in an event to celebrate the completion of two years of his government and presented his progress report to people. Yediyurappa appeared emotional throughout his speech.

During his speech, he spoke about how he strengthened the BJP across the state by riding a bicycle during the initial period. He also talked about his resignation with tears in his eyes. BS Yediyurappa added: “It has always been an agni pariksha (trial by fire) for me. These last two years it was Covid.” 

READ | Karnataka CM Resigns: Senior BJP Leaders Hold Meeting, Know Who Might Stand To Be Successor

In the afternoon, he reached Raj Bhavan and submitted his resignation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. The resignation was accepted immediately. He has been asked to continue as interim (acting) chief minister until the next chief minister is sworn in.

After the resignation, Yediyurappa said that he did not resign under pressure from the high command, but offered it himself. “I will now work to strengthen the party and will ensure that the party comes to power again in 2023,” he said.

Yediyurappa is considered a mass leader in Karnataka and comes from the Lingayat community. The Lingayat community has always been traditionally in favour of the BJP and the key to power also lies with this community. This is why appointing a new person has been a challenge for the high command.

The Lingayat community constitutes 19%, so angering them simply means losing power. This is why the BJP will appoint someone only after looking at all factors.

With Yediyurappa’s resignation, debates around ‘who the new Chief Minister will be’ have begun. The state’s Mining Minister Murgesh Nirani, who is a Lingayat himself and has been close to the RSS, is in Delhi. Prahlad Joshi, the Brahmin representative in the state, is also in Delhi.

For now, Yediyurappa becoming emotional has led people to ask questions about which direction the BJP will turn in. The Congress, given the way it has stood in support of Yediyurappa, will make his resignation a big issue and try to get political mileage.