- Monday, February 24, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
BS YEDITURAPPA on Monday (26) stepped down as the chief minister of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, ending weeks of speculation given birth by endless calls for his removal by a section of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
The 78-year-old leader was serving his fourth term as the chief minister after 2007, 2008-11 and 2019. The senior leader broke down while stepping down and his resignation came exactly on the second anniversary of the BJP government in Karanataka.
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“I have decided to resign. I will meet the Governor after lunch,” Yediyurappa said in a tearful speech at the Vidhan Sabha (state assembly) premises. It was perhaps his final term as the chief minister, given the saffron party’s age limit of 75 years for posts. Soon after, the Lingayat leader walked to the building next door to give his resignation.
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. (1/2)
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) July 26, 2021
“I thank PM Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. They gave me the chance to rule as Chief Minister despite being over 75. I had decided to resign some time back. I thought it best to resign today as we mark completion of two years in this term,” he told the media.
Earlier in his speech, Yediyurappa said, “When (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was prime minister he asked me to be a minister at the Centre. But I said I will be in Karnataka.”
About his own experience as the chief minister of Karnataka, he said it has always been an agnipariksha (trial by fire) for him, particularly in the last two years when the Covid pandemic posed a major challenge to the state administration like it did to the rest of the country.
Yediyurappa also tweeted a tribute to his party’s icons and top leaders.
Our tallest leaders, starting from Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyayaji, Syama 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.
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) July 26, 2021
