On Monday, the BJP government has completed two years in Karnataka. On the same day, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa resigned from the post of CM. Yediyurappa, who came to participate in a function on the completion of 2 years of government, announced his resignation.
After announcing his resignation, Yediyurappa said that I have always gone through a litmus test. After some time he reached the Raj Bhavan and submitted his resignation to the Governor. His resignation has also been accepted. However, he will continue to be the acting Chief Minister till the announcement of the new Chief Minister.
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After his resignation, there is a discussion about the candidates for the new CM. Sources say that the new Chief Minister will be from amongst the Lingayat community.
Yediyurappa has a stronghold on the Lingayat community
Yediyurappa also comes from the Lingayat community. The community has been a supporter of the BJP since 1990. Its share in Karnataka’s population is about 17%. Lingayats dominate 90 to 100 of the 224 assembly seats in the state. Because of this, choosing a new chief minister from this community is a compulsion as well as favourable for the BJP.
Thanked PM Modi and Amit Shah
Yedi said, “there is no pressure from the high command on him. I resigned myself. I have not suggested any name. I will work to strengthen the party. Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for giving me an opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka.”
I am grateful to PM @narendramodi Ji, @JPNadda Ji & @AmitShah Ji for their support. (2/2)
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) July 26, 2021
4 times Chief Minister but never completed a term
Yediyurappa first became the Chief Minister of Karnataka on 12 November 2007 but had to resign just seven days later on 19 November 2007. After this, on 30 May 2008, he became the Chief Minister for the second time. This time he resigned on 4 August 2011 after serious allegations of corruption. He became the Chief Minister for the third time on 17 May 2018 and then resigned on 23 May 2018 just six days later. Became Chief Minister for the fourth time on 26 July 2019 and resigned exactly two years later.
‘Filling his shoes’ would be a big task for BJP
Assembly elections are due in Karnataka in 2023 and Yediyurappa has a stronghold on the Lingayat community. In such a situation, after his resignation, the biggest challenge for the BJP would be gathering the support of the Lingayat community. On the previous day, over 100 monks from various Lingayat monasteries had met Yediyurappa and offered their support. The monks had warned the BJP that if they remove Yedi, there would be consequences. In such a situation, it will not be easy for BJP to ignore Yedi. To do so would mean losing the votes of this community.
Yediyurappa’s political stature is too big
Yedi is a strong leader of the Lingayat caste. At present, the leader of his stature is not even with Congress or any other party. Therefore, Yediyurappa’s support will be needed even if the BJP removes him from the post and makes someone else the chief minister.
Earlier also, Yediyurappa has shown his political indispensability to BJP. In the past, Yediyurappa resigned from the BJP on 31 July 2011. Later, he formed his party named Karnataka Janata Paksha. The BJP had to bear the loss for this. Yediyurappa again joined the BJP in 2014.
The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 2018 assembly elections but failed to touch the magic figure of the majority. Even after this Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister.