Yeddyurappa likely to put in his papers

New Delhi, Nov 19: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is likely to resign from the post following the refusal of the Janata Dal (Secular) to support him at the confidence vote in the Karnataka Assembly today.

A top BJP leader gave a broad hint in this regard in Parliament, adding that the party will make a formal statement very soon.

BJP vice-president incharge of Karnataka affairs Yashwant Sinha briefed party president Rajnath Singh about the latest developments in the southern state.

The five-member Yeddyurappa cabinet took oath on November 12 and was asked to prove its majority on the floor of the House today.

The BJP is the single largest party in the Karnataka Assembly with 79 MLAs but it requires support from JD(S) to win the vote of confidence.

The coalition partners came to power in the state on power sharing basis.

Although the JD(S) had pledged support to Mr Yeddyurappa, a meeting of party legislators decided to vote against him in today's confidence vote. Deliberations to resolve the deadlock yesterday remained inconclusive.

UNI