Who will be next Karnataka CM? BJP to send observer to state, Yediyurappa to continue as caretaker CM

Bengaluru, July 26: The BJP has decided to send a team of observers to Bengaluru who will convene the legislative party meeting to elect the next chief minister. Until then, BS Yediyurappa will continue to serve as caretaker chief minister of Karnataka.

Yediyurappa announced his resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, as his government completes two years in office.

The 78-year old, BJP veteran said he will submit his resignation to the Governor post lunch.

After submitting resignation, Yediyurappa said "No pressure from (BJP) high command. I myself resigned. I've submitted it voluntarily."

"Not out of grief, but with happiness," he said, as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J P Nadda for giving him an opportunity to serve as Chief Minister for two years, despite completing 75 years.

There is an unwritten rule in the BJP of keeping out those above 75 years from elected offices.

The Chief Minister also said that he will work to strengthen the party and bring it back to power, as per the expectations of the central leaders.

Yediyurappa was speaking at an event organised to mark his government's two years in office at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here.

During the speech, Yediyurappa termed his tenure for two years as "trial by fire", recalling that he had to run the administration without cabinet in the initial days, followed by devastating floods and coronavirus among other issues.