Yeddyurappa sends resignation to Gadkari

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has finally resigned and the same has been accepted by Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari.

A fax to Gadkari sent out early on Sunday morning had some strong words.

"I did not find the need to resign as I enjoy the support of 80 MLAs. However, I am a committed worker of the party and I respect the decision of the party high command which has told me to step down. I enjoy the support of a majority of the leaders who consider me their leader. I should be made the president of the party in the state."

However as per the Constitution, the resignation would come into force only once Yeddyurappa submits his resignation to the Governor of Karnataka. Yeddyurappa is expected to go to Governor H R Bhadwraj later in the day and hand over his resignation. As per his astrologer he would have to undertake this excercise between 11 am and 4 pm.

The CM, who visted a temple this morning, looked relaxed and flashed a V sign to waiting journalists. He then returned to his official residence where CM-probable D V Sadananda Gowda met with him. He continues to hold talks with his supporters while his rival faction, who are pitching for the candidature of state minister Jagadish Shettar and party MP Ananth Kumar continue to meet separately.

The BJP legislature party meeting is expected to be held anytime time after 11 am. However, that would have to wait for Yeddyurappa to tender his resignation to the Governor before they can commence the process of electing a new leader. The new leader is expected to be selected by taking the vote of the legislators, sources in the party said.

Yeddyurappa after meeting with Gowda left for Hotel Ashok to meet with the party leaders from Delhi. Sources say he is adamant about his conditions of selecting a new leader of his choice and also that he be made president of the state unit. He said that the high command wanted him to resign and then talk conditions and hence he was doing so.

Although Yeddyurappa claims he has the support of 80 MLAs, one gets the indication that 70 of the 121 MLAs are backing him.

The meeting of the legislators is not expected to be smooth as his supporters would make a last ditch effort to retain him as the leader.