Yeddyurappa resigns as chief minister of Karnataka

I hereby resign as the chief minister read B S Yeddyurappa's one-line resignation. Yeddyurappa played out the drama even in his last moments as chief minister of Karnataka as he tendered his resignation to the governor of Karnataka.

After submitting his resignation, B S Yeddyurappa told media persons that he hoped that his successor will get the same support he received. "I have come up the hard way and hail from a small town. I have worked hard to come up to this level," he said.

"The new leader has already been decided. It is just a matter of time before the announcement is made. I took time to resign since it was the month of ashada. I have kept my promise as per the wishes of the high command," Yeddyurappa added.

Yeddyurappa, who will continue as the acting chief minister till a new leader is appointed, also thanked all the people of the state for the support.

"I have worked for the public good and will continue to do so. Regarding the mining scam I have been accused unfairly. Let the public decide. I have banned export of iron ore in the interest of the state and yet was accused unfairly. There is nothing above the party and hence I accepted their command. I have bowed to the wishes of the party. I have decided not to rest and will work hard by touring the state," said Yeddyurappa.

Yeddyurappa took to the road on foot along with 70 members of the legislative assembly and scores of other supporters, as he set out to Raj Bhavan to hand over his resignation to the governor. Yeddyurappa made clear to the high command the support he enjoys, as he was accompanied by 70 MLAs including the Reddy brothers.

Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra was also present at the Raj Bhavan. He, however, did not enter the Raj Bhavan. However, all of Yeddyurappa's supporters joined him as he met with the governor.

Dressed in his trademark white trousers and a white shirt the first chief minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party in South India constantly displayed the victory symbol as he walked with his followers who screamed, long live Yeddyurappa. While 70 out of the 121 BJP MLAs accompanied Yeddyurappa, the rest continued to lobby at Hotel Ashok with leaders from the BJP high command.

One of the members who continued to make efforts to install the likes of Jagadish Shettar and Ananth Kumar as Yeddyurappa's successor said," Yeddyurappa will surely split the party if he does not have it his way. "He is adamant about Sadananda Gowda and the post of party president for himself. Gowda will only be a dummy CM at the hands of Yeddyurappa. His camp is ready to go to any extent to have their way and at times they have even threatened the high command of forming an alternative government," he said.