BJP’s first and only Chief Minister in south India hints at resignation!

Team Udayavani, Jul 22, 2021, 11:10 AM IST

Bengaluru: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday, July 22 said that he would resign if the BJP’s central leadership asks him to do so.

Addressing presspersons here Yediyurappa hinted at his resignation.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah (Home Minister), and our national President J P Nadda have a special love and faith towards me. You are aware that no position has been given to those who have crossed 75 years of age, but appreciating my work they have given me an opportunity despite me crossing 78 years,” Yediyurappa said.

“Based on the instructions that the central leaders will give me on July 25, I will begin my work from July 26. We have a special programme on July 26 regarding 2 years of our government, after attending that event, I will abide by the instructions from the national president,” he added.

Yediyurappa, the BJP’s first and only Chief Minister in south India, has almost completed two years in charge since he took over from the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in July 2019.

He has been facing what was seen as hostility from some BJP MLAs in the state. Some leaders including MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Tourism Minister CP Yogeshwar, and MLC AH Vishwanath have spoken against Yediyurappa, despite warnings of disciplinary action by the leadership.

The Chief Minister’s sudden trip to Delhi last week to meet BJP’s top leaders had raised questions about how long he would continue in his post.

While in Delhi, when asked about rumours of a leadership change in the state BJP, he told reporters: “There is no truth in it. Not at all. Not at all. Not at all.”

He said the same after flying back to Bengaluru – that he would keep the post.

Meanwhile, the political and religious leaders of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, which comprises 16 per cent of the state’s population and is seen as the BJP’s big support base in the state, are backing the Chief Minister. Several of them have warned the BJP against any move to dislodge Mr Yediyurappa, who also belongs to the community.