Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 26: The Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa submitted his resignation to the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday, the day he completed two years in the office in his fourth stint, ending weeks of speculations about his fate due to his advanced age and ill health.
A communique from Raj Bhavan said his resignation had been accepted and has been asked to hold charge till an alternative arrangement was made.
The decision to choose his successor has been left to the party high command and the chief minister Narendra Modi may select the leader by Tuesday evening amidst repeated claims from the outgoing chief minister that resigning from the post was his own decision and was not forced by the high command. His repeated breaking down and emotional outburst, however, betrayed his claims that he was resigning “happily.”
The 78-year old Yediyurappa had lately not been keeping well with some of the party members and ministers claiming that he was allowing his son to interfere in the official affair and was functioning as the de facto chief minister. It was alleged that most of the important executive decisions were being taken by his son and the chief minister was only signing the documents on the dotted lines. The issue had sparked off opposition against him within the party forcing the party high command to take note of the situation in Karnataka where the Congress-JD(S) combine was lurking behind the curtains to take charge if the BJP slipped.
Emerging out of the Raj-Bhavan, Yediyurappa told the waiting media persons, “I have happily resigned. The Governor has asked me to continue in the post till the next Chief Minister is appointed. The resignation is voluntary. I want to allow a chance to others to helm the government. There was no pressure. I had decided to resign two months ago.”
The 78- year-old Chief Minister said that his successor will get full cooperation from his side. The veteran leader expressed his gratitude to the people of Karnataka for allowing him to be the Chief Minister of the State four times.
This stint could well draw the curtains on his over four-decade-old political career during which he rose from the ranks of the RSS in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district in the Malnad region to become the Chief Minister of the State. The four-time CM is the tallest leader in the Lingayat community, which is among the biggest voter base for the saffron party in Karnataka.
Amid speculation over his replacement in the last 15 days, Yediyurappa’s camp had tried to grab the Lingayat political optics as Lingayat -Veerashaiva seers and the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha rallied behind him, urging him to stay put while asking the BJP high command not to replace him.
When asked about speculation of him being appointed a Governor, Yediyurappa said, “There is no question of becoming a Governor. I will work for the party. Even when (late) Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked me to join the Union Cabinet, I had declined.”
Earlier, announcing his resignation at an event to mark two years in office, an emotionally charged Yediyurappa said, “I have decided to go to Raj Bhavan after lunch and hand over my resignation. This is not out of sadness, but out of happiness.”
In an emotional speech during which he broke down a couple of times, the veteran leader, who had been under intense pressure to step down, said, “I am thankful to the high command. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for having allowed me to continue in office for two years despite the rule in the BJP of no power for those above 75 years.”
He recalled his bumpy ride into the office of the Chief Minister for a fourth term, and obliquely expressed his displeasure towards the high command for tying his hand.
“I had to face a lot of challenges when I formed the government. The high command did not allow me to form the cabinet for one-and-a-half months despite flood and rains in Karnataka. I had to roam around like a mad man. Last one-and-a-half years, I had to fight COVID-19.”
During a long speech at the Banquet Hall in Vidhan Soudha, he recalled the growth of the BJP in Karnataka and the efforts that he put in. He recalled going around for party work on a bicycle in the early days.
Asking ministers to cooperate with whoever replaces him, he assured that sitting ministers who have come in from the Congress and JD(S) will not be affected by the change.
Getting emotional while speaking about his journey in politics, the Chief Minister added, “At a time when there were no cars, I remember cycling to work for the BJP party in Shikaripura, Shimoga. We, along with a few BJP workers, built the party and took it to where it is today.” He insisted even if offered he would not accept a gubernatorial post and would stay put in Karnataka to work for the party to ensure that the BJP retained power in the next elections.
In a series of tweets on Monday afternoon, Yediyurappa said he has dedicated his entire 50 years of public life towards nation-building and fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Karnataka.
“Deeply influenced by Jagajyoti Basavanna’s philosophy of Kayaka, Dasoha Tattva & the life of Lingaikya Shri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, I have dedicated my entire 50 years of public life towards nation building and fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Karnataka,” he wrote.
“Our tallest leaders, starting from Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyayaji, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, Atalji, Advaniji, Murali Manohar Joshiji have inspired me to dedicate myself to serve the nation. I have also received immense love and support of Modiji, Amit Shahji and Naddaji,” he added.
“Sarvodaya through Antyodaya has been the guiding philosophy of our party. In the last 50 years, upliftment of poor, oppressed, backward communities, senior citizens, women and children has been my priority and I dedicated myself to bring positive changes in the lives of people,” he said in another tweet before going to submit his resignation.
Yediyurappa, a 78-year-old Lingayat strongman, has served as the Chief Minister for two years after he took oath on July 26, 2019.
He had previously served as the chief minister for a week in November 2007 and again for three years from 2008 to 2011. After allegations of corruption against him, he had resigned in July 2011.
In 2018, he took charge as the Chief Minister for two days before his government was toppled by the JD(S)-Congress coalition.
After a year, he managed to form a BJP government in the state after seventeen MLAs from the Congress and JD(S) resigned and joined the BJP to support Yediyurappa.
For the past one week, since his meetings with senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda, talks of Yediyurappa stepping down as the CM became stronger, with he himself hinting at stepping down after July 26.