BENGALURU: Putting an end to reports and speculation, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday announced his resignation.
Yediyurappa said nobody had pressurised him to resign.
"Nobody pressurised me to resign. I did it on my own so that someone else can take over as CM after the completion of 2 years of govt. I'll work to bring BJP back in power in the next election. I've not given the name of anyone who should succeed me," he said.
"I am grateful to PM Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda for giving me the opportunity to serve Karnataka for two years. I also thank the people of Karnataka & my constituency. I decided to resign two days back. The governor has accepted my resignation," said Yediyurappa.
"We will work under whoever will be selected as the new CM by the high command. I will give my 100% and my supporters will also give their 100%. There is no need to make any inference of dissatisfaction," he added.
Karnataka governor Thawarchand Gehlot has accepted Yediyurappa's resignation and asked him to continue as caretaker CM till the next CM takes the oath.
"It has been an honour to have served the state for the past two years. I have decided to resign as the chief minister of Karnataka. I am humbled and sincerely thank the people of the state for giving me the opportunity to serve them," he tweeted.
"There is no question about me leaving the state. I will continue to work for the welfare of the people in Karnataka," said the outgoing CM on being asked if he is willing to serve as a governor.
Yediyurappa presents his 2-year report card at Vidhana Soudha before the announcement of his resignation.
Yediyurappa, 78, had met the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s top leadership recently in Delhi where he had been asked to resign to make way for a younger leader.
There were several reports stating that the resignation will be announced after participating in the two-year celebrations in office and the strong speculation has turned out to be true.
The BJP leadership will now decide upon the new chief minister in a meeting to be held in the evening.
There are eight contenders but the names of Visveswara Hegde Kageri, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal & Aravind Bellad is strongly doing the rounds.
(With inputs from ANI)
