Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 24: The twist and turns witnessed by Karnataka politics are common knowledge. Yediyurappa, who played a crucial role in grabbing power from te coalition partners and establishing the BJP back in power, became the chief minister and remained so for two years. Eighteen months away from the next assembly election, the national leadership of the party made him to step down. He was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai, who was the home minister, who reportedly was Yediyurappa's choice.
On the day on which he stepped down from the chair of the chief minister, with tears rolling down his eyes, Yediyurappa has clarified that he had resigned on his own and there was no pressure on him. Thereafter, many believe that the party has been neglecting him. Speaking on the issue in the assembly on Thursday September 23, Yediyurappa stated again that he had resigned voluntarily.
Speaking in the house, Yediyurappa said that he had stepped down on his own and his decision was aimed at making sure that others too should become chief ministers. "I made Bommai the chief minister. There is no need to nurse any suspicion on this issue. I did not face any pressure. The decision I took has received lot of appreciation all over the country," he stressed.
When Yediyurappa said he had resigned on January 26, some legislators said it was July. But Yediyurappa reiterated that it was January 26, before correcting the same at February 26. He said the decision to leave as CM which he had taken, had come in for lavish praise even from the Prime Minister and home minister of the country. "People of the country have approved my decision," he stated again.
After Yediyurappa's resignation was accepted and as per his wish, Bommai was made the chief minister, Yediyurappa had said he would devote his time for organizational work. When he announced decision to undertake state-wide tour, union home minister Amit Shah, surprised him by announcing that the next election will be fought under Bommai. After this, party cadres began feeling that Yediyurappa was being let down and that he was being sidelined. People from his own party and others across different parties were wondering whether the leaders were justified in overlooking a leader who single handedly built the BJP in the state and ensured that it rose to power. Yediyurappa issued the above statement in order to clear the air relating to this feeling.