Amidst high drama BSY submits resignation to the Governor

Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

 

Bangalore, 31 July 2011:  It was a drama of high voltage that preceded the submission of resignation by BS Yeddyurappa to the Governor, Hansraj Bharadwaj in the afternon of Sunday, July 31, 2011, thus fianlly bringing down the curtain on one of the most volatile and intriguing political develpments in Karnataka. In one line resignation letter comprising of one sentence "I resign from the post of the Chief Minister of Karnataka", BS Yeddyurappa finally  relinquished his post of Chief Ministership amidst much speculation and uncertainty after administering the state for three years and two months.

 

Originally, as promised to the BJP Central leadership, BS Yeddyurappa was to submit his resignation letter to the Governor at 2.30 pm. However, there was delay probably, he wanted the Central BJP leadership to announce the name of Sadananada Gowda, his protege as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. 

 

As time ticked on and speculation rose, it was announced that Yeddyurappa would have to submit his resignation letter to the Governor before 4.30 pm as there would be ’Rahukaala’ between 4.30 pm to 6 pm. Moreover, there was also speculation whether he would go from his official residence at the Race Course Road to the Governor’s residence in a private car or on foot, a kind of ’Padayatra’. 

 

As the journalists and police waited for BS Yeddyurappa to start his journey to Governor’s residence, news came from Uttara Kannada District that fifty years old Krishna Kattimani from Haliyal taluka’s Yadoga village,a committed BJP worker and staunch supprter of Yeddyurappa attempted to kill himself by consuming poison and was admitted to a hospital in Hubli. 

In front of the residence of the Chief Minister, a youth created a drama by lying on the road and threatening to end his life against the resignation of BS Yeddyurappa. He was quickly taken away by the police.

 

At around 3.40 pm, BS Yeddyurappa emerged from his residence  follwed by his trusted and loyal MLAs, MLCs and MPs and other followers and walked through the road leading to the residence of the Governor. There was high voltage drama as the ’padayatra’ progressed and eventually BS Yeddyurappa along with his followers reached the residence of the Governor at around 4.15 pm and submitted his one line resignation which officially ended his tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The entire ’walkathon’ seemed like a victory march. Apparently, Yeddyurappa wanted to flex his muscles and show his political clout to the Governor by bringing before him his supportive legislators and parliamentarians. Indirectly, this was also a message that Yeddyurappa wanted to send to the4 Central BJP leadership that it cannot afford to ignore his political strength in the State of Karnataka.

 

Coming out of the Governor’s residence, briefly addressing the crowd and media persons, Yeddyurappa narrated how he had built the BJP party in Karnataka and what type of good work he had done during this Chief Ministership that lasted for three years and two months. He said that he resigned his post with a high sense of satisfaction of having fulfilled his responsibility as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and would work hard to further strengthen the party in the state.

 

BS Yeddyurappa will continue as the Acting Chief Minister till the new leaders of the Legislative Assembly who would become the next Chief Minister would be elected. In all probability Sadananda Gowda, the former President of the Karnataka BJP and presently the MP from Udupi-Chikkamagalur, a staunch supporter of Yeddyurappa and a non-controversial person whose name has been recommended by the outgoing CM as his successor to the Central BJP leadership may eventually inherit the mantle of Chief Ministership of Karnataka. However, there may be a slip between the cup and the lip. In the unscrupulous political game where various considerations play their own role nothing can be ruled out. Let the people of Karnataka keep their fingers crossed and wait for the next episode of high voltage political drama.