End of high drama: BS Yedyurappa resigns as Chief Minister

Bengaluru: 55 hours after swearing in as Chief Minister of Karnataka for the third time, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yeddyurappa declared in his Assembly address that he will not move the motion of the trust vote but would instead, submit his resignation. He said that he will voluntarily support the Congress-JD(S) government.

Yeddyurappa’s turn came after it turned out to be certain that he would fail to demonstrate majority in the house. Yeddyurappa’s renunciation came in under 48 hours after he took pledge as the state Chief Minister, supplanting Congress’ Siddaramiah. 

Yeddyurappa’s abdication currently clears path for Janata Dal (Secular) pioneer HD Kumaraswamy to take in charge as the Chief Minister. The Congress and JD(S) went into a post-election alliance to stake claim to frame the government as they had the required magic number to demonstrate majority on the floor of the house. 

“The cunningness of the Congress has done a great disservice to the nation. I am resigning as chief minister. I am not moving this motion, I am going straight to Raj Bhavan to submit my resignation”: Yeddyurappa said.

He also thanked the people for supporting him and his party in the election and said emotionally that he would give his life for the people of his State. He also declared confidently that the BJP will win all 228 seats in 2019.

What made the situation harder for Yeddyurappa was the sudden presence of missing Congress MLAs — Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil — it was asserted that they were being held hostage at the Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru.