Hours after BS Yediyurappa resigned from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister, Opposition party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed him as the “most corrupt chief minister” and said that the resignation was expected.
READ | Politicians react to BSY’s exit; Siddaramaiah terms him ‘most corrupt Karnataka CM’
Ending months-long speculations over a leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday (July 26) announced his resignation during a programme commemorating two years of the BJP government in the state. While his replacement hasn’t been announced yet, Yediyurappa said that the party leaders will decide the next CM soon.
A six-time BJP MLA from a Scheduled Caste community, who has been described as “a loyal worker” of the party and the RSS from the coastal Karnataka region, has emerged as the dark horse to be the new Chief Minister of the state after the resignation of B S Yediyurappa on Monday, sources told The Indian Express.
Karnataka Fisheries Minister S Angara, a low-profile leader who never became a minister until recently despite being elected on six occasions from the reserved Sullia constituency in the RSS stronghold of Dakshina Kannada, has emerged among the ranks of frontrunners for the post, sources said. If Angara gets the nod, he is likely to become the first Dalit Chief Minister of Karnataka.
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Other frontrunners in the race are central BJP leader B L Santhosh, a Brahmin; home minister Basavaraj Bommai, a Lingayat and close associate of Yediyurappa; Union minister Pralhad Joshi, a Brahmin; and Arvind Bellad, an MLA with no administrative experience but who hails from a numerically large but politically frustrated Panchamshali Lingayat group.
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Adding to the suspense among public and political circles in Karnataka as the state awaits the ruling BJP to announce the next Chief Minister, Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra said the selection will be a "surprise choice."
"It (next Karnataka CM) will be a surprise choice like those made by the party in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. For instance, even during the latest Union cabinet reshuffle, neither you (media) nor us (politicians) could predict what was to happen," Raghavendra, who is also the son of outgoing CM Yediyurappa said at Bengaluru airport on Tuesday.
BJP Karnataka legislators party have a meeting scheduled at 7.30pm today, said BJP spokesperson Capt. Ganesh Karnik.
The meeting will be held at Capitol hotel. BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and G Kishan Reddy as observers will be part of the meeting.
According to sources, Karnataka incharge Arun Singh and DK Aruna should be in Bengaluru in an hour.
Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Home, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Yediyurappa-led cabinet Basavaraj Bommai Tuesday said in Bengaluru that the process of appointing a new chief minister will be completed soon.
'This process (of announcing Yediyurappa's successor) will be completed in the next three to four days. There won't be much gap from now,' he said. However, when asked about any possible decision that has been made by the party's High Command, Bommai said, 'The state leaders are yet to have exact information on who would be the next CM. Ours is a national party and we have a set system in place where decision making is done at different levels,' he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bommai and former Revenue Minister R Ashoka had met caretaker CM Yediyurappa at his official residence in the Karnataka capital as well.
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A district court in Karnataka has held an official of the Mangaluru City Corporation guilty in a disproportionate assets case.
According to an order pronounced by the third district and sessions court in the city, Assistant Town Planning Officer (ATPO) B P Shivaraju was sentenced to five years imprisonment and asked to pay a fine of Rs 34 lakh.
The judgment was delivered 14 years after the Lokayukta Police filed a chargesheet in the case. During the investigation, the police had stated that a search on July 25, 2007 revealed Shivaraju to be in possession of assets accounting to Rs 30 lakh in excess of his known sources of income.
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With veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa stepping down from the chief minister’s post, all eyes are on Tuesday’s BJP parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi, where a new CM candidate will be picked by BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP parliamentary board, the highest decision-making body in the party, will pick a candidate from a shortlist of over half a dozen probables and communicate the choice to the BJP legislators in Karnataka through emissaries.
Some members of the parliamentary board and the BJP leadership will subsequently travel to Karnataka with the intent of ensuring the smooth election of the new candidate at the legislature party meeting.
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Karnataka Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah Tuesday visited Belagavi to take stock of the situation in flood-hit villages in the district. He was accompanied by party MLAs Sathish Jarkiholi, Anjali Nimbalkar, and Laxmi R Hebbalkar for the visit.
The former Karnataka CM also met top officials of the district administration earlier today. Incessant rains that lashed Karnataka since last Thursday left the north Karnataka district as the worst affected from across the state. Yediyurappa, on Sunday as the CM, had visited several spots in the district as well.
A special investigation team (SIT) of Bengaluru police has completed its probe into a sex CD episode involving former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi — where a case of sexual assault has been filed against Jarkiholi by a woman and a complaint of extortion against unnamed suspects by the BJP MLA.
The SIT found no evidence to prosecute the case of sexual assault filed by the woman but has found evidence to prosecute the woman and two others who were allegedly involved in the extortion of the BJP MLA, sources said.
The SIT has proposed filing a B report or a closure report in the sexual assault case and a chargesheet in the extortion case. In the investigations of the alleged case of sexual assault, the probe has found no evidence to establish the woman’s claims that the minister offered her a government job to coerce her into a sexual relationship. The probe has found no evidence of the woman seeking a job through the minister as claimed by her. It was found that she was not an engineering graduate as claimed but had dropped out of an engineering course in her second year at college.
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The Karnataka government on Monday ordered releasing additional instalments of dearness allowance, revising it from the existing 11.25 per cent to 21.5 per cent for the period January 2020 to June 2021, which it had frozen in view of the crisis arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Government is pleased to release the additional installments of the dearness allowance for the period January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Accordingly, the rates of dearness allowance payable to the state government employees in the 2018 revised pay scales shall be revised from the existing 11.25 per cent to 21.50 per cent of basic pay with effect from July 1, 2021,” a government order said.
Government also announced enhancing the rates of dearness allowance from the existing 11.25 per cent to 21.50 per cent of the basic pension or family pension with effect from July 1, 2021 to state government pensioners or family pensioners and pensioners or family pensioners of aided educational institutions whose pension or family pension is paid out of the consolidated fund of the state.
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In an emotional speech on Monday, Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa announced his resignation during an event which was held to celebrate his government’s second anniversary in Bengaluru. Terming his tenure as an ‘agnipariksha’ (trial by fire), a visibly emotional Yediyurappa, in a choked voice, said he has always worked to build the party and even when the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked him once to become a central minister, he had chosen to stay back in Karnataka to work for BJP.
“Not out of grief, but with happiness, I am resigning from the post of the CM. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda for giving me an opportunity to serve as the CM for two years, despite completing 75 years of age. There is an unwritten rule in the BJP that those above 75 years are kept out of elected offices,” he said.
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Hours after BS Yediyurappa resigned from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister, Opposition party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed him as the “most corrupt chief minister” and said that the resignation was expected.
In a tweet, Siddaramaiah said “The resignation by @BSYBJP was expected & I had told about this long back. There is nothing to be celebrated about it now. We will celebrate only when the corrupt @BJP4Karnataka party loses in the election & that will happen very soon. There is nothing to be celebrated about it now.”
The former Chief Minister, speaking to reporters in Gadag in North Karnataka said that there is no loss to Karnataka with the resignation of Yediyurappa, and there is no benefit either, with the arrival of a new CM.
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There will be no power supply in the following areas till July 31 between 10 am and 5 pm.
According to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), the power cut is for replacing 15 old 11KV Areva switchgear with new MEI switchgear of Bank-1 and Bank-2, at 66/11kv Austin Town Sub-Station.
According to an official release, the areas affected are Victoria Layout, Palm Grove Road, Agaram, Viveknagar, Sonnenahalli, Vannarpet. Austin Town, Anjaneya Temple Street, KSRP Quatrus, Lindon street, Palm Grove Road, Xavior Layout, Y.G. Palyam
F2 FEEDER: Air Force Hospital, Domlur, Lifestyle, Campbell Road Junction, Richmond Road, Rudrappa Garden, Austin town, Neelasandra, Bazar Street, R.K. Garden, Rose Garden, ORC road.
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The Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) has decided to provide lights in its areas and surroundings allowing tourists to visit the place during night hours too.
According to officials, the development is part of a project named 'Hampi by Night' which is expected to be operational from August 15. "As many as 17 monuments including Virupaksha temple, Narasimha temple, Kamal Mahal, and Gejjala Mantap have been picked for the project. They will remain illuminated every night, different from the usual scenario when they are illuminated only during Hampi Utsav," the official said.
However, officials are yet to finalise an official date for the launch, entry fee, and timings to allow entry to tourists during night hours too. Technical works for the same are now underway, they added.
The Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) has decided to provide lights in its areas and surroundings allowing tourists to visit the place during night hours too.
According to officials, the development is part of a project named 'Hampi by Night' which is expected to be operational from August 15. "As many as 17 monuments including Virupaksha temple, Narasimha temple, Kamal Mahal, and Gejjala Mantap have been picked for the project. They will remain illuminated every night, different from the usual scenario when they are illuminated only during Hampi Utsav," the official said.
However, officials are yet to finalise an official date for the launch, entry fee, and timings to allow entry to tourists during night hours too. Technical works for the same are now underway, they added.
The Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) has decided to provide lights in its areas and surroundings allowing tourists to visit the place during night hours too.
According to officials, the development is part of a project named 'Hampi by Night' which is expected to be operational from August 15. "As many as 17 monuments including Virupaksha temple, Narasimha temple, Kamal Mahal, and Gejjala Mantap have been picked for the project. They will remain illuminated every night, different from the usual scenario when they are illuminated only during Hampi Utsav," the official said.
However, officials are yet to finalise an official date for the launch, entry fee, and timings to allow entry to tourists during night hours too. Technical works for the same are now underway, they added.
Bengaluru city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed to upgrade health infrastructure in the city.
The BBMP has submitted a proposal for Rs 1,242.27 crore to the State government. Apart from setting up primary health care centers in 57 wards that don’t have one, the BBMP has also proposed setting up a hospital in every Assembly constituency of Bengaluru.
So far, Bengaluru has only 141 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and seven referral hospitals that mainly cater to maternity and women’s health issues under the civic body.
According to BBMP chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta, four new multi-speciality hospitals are being planned at Rs 238.2 crore, while paediatric care facilities will be created in the seven referral hospitals at Rs 10.61 crore.
Karnataka on Monday reported 1,606 new cases of Covid-19 and 31 deaths, pushing the infection count to 28,96,163 and the death toll to 36,405.
The day also saw 1,937 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries to 28,36,678.
Bengaluru Urban logged 467 new cases while it reported 497 discharges and three deaths.
Active cases in the state stood at 23,057. Out of 31 deaths reported, four were from Dakshina Kannada, Bengaluru Urban, Havri, three from each of Mysuru and Uttara Kannada, two from each of Belagavi, Kolar, Mandya and Vijayapura, followed by others.
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Weeks after the Union Cabinet reshuffle signalled a generational change in the BJP, the party on Monday managed to effect a transition in Karnataka, with B S Yediyurappa stepping down as chief minister and leaving the succession race wide open.
With memories intact of 2012 — when the Lingayat heavyweight had walked out of the party, wrecking the BJP’s political fortunes in the state — this time, the BJP leadership is treading carefully as it looks for a candidate who can lead the party into the next election in 2023, aware that it can only do so with the 78-year-old veteran’s blessings.
Party leaders indicated that “the leadership will consider Yediyurappa’s preferences” while choosing his successor. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan will be the party’s central observer to oversee the election of the new leader.
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Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have indicated that a model developed recently has helped them calculate Karnataka's need for an enhanced rate of Covid-19 vaccination, which in turn would help reduce the caseload in the state drastically.
According to the scientists, who developed the model from teams also from the Indian Statistical Institute and the University of Virginia, if Karnataka administered four lakh doses per day, the state’s Covid-19 caseload would reduce by 55 per cent by August 31. At present, the state is administering between one to two lakh vaccine doses on a daily basis. It however noted that vaccination should go hand-in-hand with strict non-pharmaceutical interventions such as lockdowns and curfews.
The Karnataka government's decision on reopening schools, after nearly a year and a half due to Covid-19, is likely to be delayed further courtesy the political situation in the state.
However, the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) handed over its report to the government on Monday recommending reopening of schools on August 1. As per sources in the directorate, the report has indicated that classes for higher classes (Class 6 and above) should reopen in the first or second week of August followed by classes for younger students a week later.
Earlier last week, Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar had announced that a decision would be taken on Monday or Tuesday. However, with the council of ministers now dissolved following Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's resignation accepted by the Governor, the process is likely to face more delays.
As classes resumed on college campuses Monday after nearly four months, several students were sent back by the authorities asking them to return only when they can furnish a certificate indicating reception of at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
"While most students produced their vaccination certificate and consent letters from parents, some failed to do so. They have been asked to come back only with these mandatory requisites," the principal of a Bengaluru college said.
While Bangalore University recorded 52 per cent attendance, the Visvesvaraya Technological University noted the same as 38 per cent on the first day.
BS Yediyurappa’s resignation as Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday has brought an end to a chapter in the BJP’s politics in the state. That he has been the party’s most prominent leader in Karnataka, and that the present state government was of his making, could not help him stay on in office, two years into his fourth term as chief minister. He could take solace in the fact that these are difficult times for chief ministers, many of whom seem to be battling centralising tendencies of their political parties, factional intrigue and the rebellion of ambitious colleagues — be it Amarinder Singh in Punjab, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan, Adityanath in UP, Bhupesh Baghel in Chhattisgarh, or Biplab Kumar Deb in Tripura.
Those who seem relatively more comfortable in office — Naveen Patnaik in Odisha, Nitish Kumar in Bihar, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, K Chandrashekar Rao in Telangana and M K Stalin in Tamil Nadu among them — head regional parties. It would appear that at a time when voters express a preference for strong leaders in office, the central leaderships of national parties seem increasingly wary of powerful state leaders.
More specifically, Yediyurappa’s unceremonious resignation points to the trend towards centralisation in the BJP. The party is yet to give a public reason or rationale for the change of guard in Bengaluru. Is it that Yediyurappa has crossed 75, the unofficial retirement age in BJP? Or did corruption allegations against him cost him his job? But none of these considerations are recent or new — Yediyurappa is 79, and he was seen to be more embroiled in controversy in his earlier stints in office.
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Shortly delivering an emotional speech to mark the second anniversary of his government, when he recalled the days of travelling on cycle and going on “padayatra” to build a base for the BJP in a state where it had none, B S Yediyurappa resigned on Monday afternoon, ending several months of speculation over his position as Chief Minister of Karnataka.
The BJP national leadership is expected to pick a “younger replacement” for the 78-year-old Lingayat leader in the next few days by balancing the demands of caste, administrative experience and the need to “fulfil the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” and the BJP.
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BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh on Monday declined to comment on the next chief minister after the resignation of B S Yediyurappa, saying the decision is left to the party's parliamentary board and BJP legislature party.
"I will not say now. The parliamentary board of the BJP will decide the next chief minister and in the legislature party meeting," Singh told reporters in New Delhi. When asked when the meeting was likely, he said he cannot say anything at this juncture.
To a question on the reason behind Yediyurappa's resignation as Chief Minister, Singh said he himself has explained it.Regarding his next Bengaluru visit, he said he would let people know later. (PTI)
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Welcome to the live blog from Bengaluru where we bring to you the latest updates on Yediyurappa's resignation, BJP leadership change, Karnataka politics, BBMP and more across Bengaluru and Karnataka. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the state in real time.
Ending months-long speculations over a leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday (July 26) announced his resignation during a programme commemorating two years of the BJP government in the state.
While his replacement hasn’t been announced yet, Yediyurappa said that the party leaders will decide the next CM soon. He also contended that no one had forced him to quit and it was his decision to step down. The former chief minister had himself hinted at stepping down earlier this month.
The Lingayat strongman enjoys huge support from seers of various Lingayat mutts across Karnataka, as well as senior Congress and JD(S) leaders who shifted parties under his watch. Several of them had earlier extended support to Yediyurappa, warning BJP of consequences if he is forced to resign. Read More
In an emotional speech on Monday, B S Yediyurappa announced his resignation during an event which was held to celebrate his government’s second anniversary in Bengaluru. Terming his tenure as an ‘agnipariksha’ (trial by fire), a visibly emotional Yediyurappa, in a choked voice, said he has always worked to build the party and even when the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked him once to become a central minister, he had chosen to stay back in Karnataka to work for BJP.
“Not out of grief, but with happiness, I am resigning from the post of the CM. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda for giving me an opportunity to serve as the CM for two years, despite completing 75 years of age. There is an unwritten rule in the BJP that those above 75 years are kept out of elected offices,” he said. Read More
Hours after BS Yediyurappa resigned from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister, Opposition party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed him as the “most corrupt chief minister” and said that the resignation was expected.
In a tweet, Siddaramaiah said “The resignation by @BSYBJP was expected & I had told about this long back. There is nothing to be celebrated about it now. We will celebrate only when the corrupt @BJP4Karnataka party loses in the election & that will happen very soon. There is nothing to be celebrated about it now.” Read More
BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh on Monday declined to comment on the next chief minister after the resignation of B S Yediyurappa, saying the decision is left to the party's parliamentary board and BJP legislature party.
"I will not say now.The parliamentary board of the BJP will decide the next chief minister and in the legislature party meeting," Singh told reporters in New Delhi. (PTI)
Hours after Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's resignation on Monday, Shikaripura, the assembly constituency in Shivamogga district which he has represented seven times, was shut as a mark of protest by his supporters.
Expressing sympathy with Yediyurappa, traders voluntarily shut down their business establishments as the BJP supporters staged a demonstration in the town.
Roads were deserted as Yediyurappa's supporters hit the streets raising slogans and put up his cut-outs to show their solidarity with him.
The workers also denounced the BJP leaders for compelling the Lingayat strongman to resign without allowing him to complete his term. (PTI)
After B S Yediyurappa submitted his resignation, BJP workers in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, were seen raising slogans in favour of of the former Karnataka CM. Shikaripura is the constituency Yediyurappa represented seven times.
The Congress in Karnataka on Monday demanded the ouster of the BJP government in Karnataka instead of the party finding a replacement for Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa who has resigned.
Alleging that the BJP government in Karnataka was "illegitimate as it was born out of defection and corruption, the main opposition party wondered whether changing the face would also change the government's 'diabolical character'.
"There is no benefit for the common man if one corrupt CM is removed to make another corrupt as CM. Instead the whole BJP party, which is responsible for the miseries of people, should be ousted," former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, tweeted.
Reacting to Yediyurappa's resignation, he said "the power politics" in BJP is unfortunate when people are suffering due to natural calamities. (PTI)
There seems to be no “closure” for B S Yediyurappa, the BJP’s “comeback man” in Karnataka, as he could never complete a full term in office, despite becoming the Chief Minister four times, surmounting odds.
It’s also too early to write a political obituary of the 78-year-old Lingayat strongman and the 24X7 politician, the face of the party in the State for decades.
From the humdrum existence as a government clerk and a hardware store owner to becoming the chief minister four times, Yediyurappa has navigated the choppy waters of politics with the consummate ease of a seasoned oarsman. Read more
As BS Yediyurappa tendered his resignation as chief minister to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot this afternoon, many names are popping up as front-runners to replace him. Several BJP leaders and sources that Indianexpress.com spoke to said that the decision rests solely on the central leadership even if Yediyurappa might have a say in it.
While it will be a big task for the party to replace Lingayat strongman Yediyurappa, the central leadership may not be averse to look beyond the community, the major vote bank for BJP in Karnataka. As of now, the frontrunners come from Lingayat, Vokkaliga and Brahmin communities. A run-through of some of the leading candidates:
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After B S Yediyurappa tendered his resignation as Chief Minister today, former Chief Minister and leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to blast the government for being 'busy in power politics instead of helping people in distress'. His comments came in the wake of loss of lives and crops due to floods in various districts of the state.
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has accepted Yediyurappa's resignation letter and dissolved the council of ministers headed by him.
Karnataka caretaker Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa met with all senior leaders after tendering resignation at his residence Cauvery.
Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa clarified that resignation is his own decision, no one forced him to resign. “No one forced me to resign from high command, I only decided to give resignation,” Outgoing CM BS Yediyurappa said.
On being asked if he is willing to serve as a Governor of any state, he said, “There is no question about me leaving the state. I will continue to work for the welfare of the people in Karnataka.”
“I will work to bring BJP back in power in the next election. I have not given the name of anyone who should succeed me,” he added.
Yediyurappa has asked all ministers to cooperate with his successor. He said that ministers appointed after joining BJP from Congress and JDS will not be affected by his resignation.
Yediyurappa submitted his resignation to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan today.
Yediyurappa will remain the caretaker CM till a new CM is appointed and added that he will remain in active politics.
Yediyurappa says he resigned on his own and was not asked to resign by PM, Amit Shah or party president J P Nadda.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa submitted his resignation letter to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Monday afternoon.
"I have submitted my resignation as the CM. I thank the BJP leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Amit Shah and central leaders for giving me the opportunity to work as the CM even after crossing the age of 75", said BS Yediyurappa, outgoing Karnataka CM.
Yediyurappa announced his decision on Monday afternoon during an event commemorating two years of the BJP government in Karnataka.
Addressing the Media outside Raj Bhavan he said, “I would like to thank people of Karnataka especially people of Shikaripura, Shimoga."
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa reached Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and hand over his resignation.
Yediyurappa announced his decision on Monday afternoon during an event commemorating two years of the BJP government in Karnataka. Yediyurappa said, “I have decided that after lunch, I will go to Raj Bhavan and resign not out of sadness but with happiness and with thanks to all leaders.”
Getting emotional while speaking about his journey in politics, the Chief Minister added, “At a time when there were no cars, I remember cycling to work for the BJP party in Shikaripura, Shimoga. We, along with a few BJP workers, built the party and took it to where it is today.”
Ending days of speculations, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that he will hand over his resignation to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Monday afternoon.
Announcing the decision during an event commemorating two years of the BJP government in Karnataka, Yediyurappa said, “I have decided that after lunch, I will go to Raj Bhavan and resign — not out of sadness but with happiness and with thanks to all leaders.”
Getting emotional while speaking about his journey in politics, the Chief Minister added, “At a time when there were no cars, I remember cycling to work for the BJP party in Shikaripura, Shimoga. We, along with a few BJP workers, built the party and took it to where it is today.”
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Following the announcement of his resignation, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has arrived at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
During a grand event to commemorate the second anniversary of the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa government at the Karnataka Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru Yediyurappa gets emotional during his speech.
"At a time when there were no cars, I remember cycling to work for the BJP party in Shikaripura, Shimoga. We with few BJP workers built the party when there was no one to do it," Yediyurappa said even as there is no clarity regarding the BJP’s decision on his future as the chief minister.
“It is my desire that BJP comes back to power at the Centre under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah again," he added.
BS Yediyurappa will resign as Karnataka Chief Minister today afternoon. Yediyurappa announced the decision at the event to commemorate the second anniversary of the BJP government.
Yediyurappa said he will submit his resignation letter to the Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand Gehlot this afternoon.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa paid tribute to the martyrs at National Military Memorial, in Bengaluru on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Preparations for a grand event to commemorate the second anniversary of the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa government are underway at the Karnataka Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru even as there is no clarity regarding the BJP’s decision on his future as the chief minister.
Earlier on Thursday, Yediyurappa said that after the event, he will make an announcement on whether he will continue as the CM or not. He said he will speak on the achievements of his government at the event, on Monday. “After that, other things you will come to know,” he added.
Amid speculation about change in leadership in Karnataka, BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday talking to reporters in Panaji, Goa ruled out any leadership crisis in the state and said Yediyurappa has done good work. When reporters asked if there was a leadership crisis in Karnataka, Nadda said: “That is what you feel. We don’t feel so.”
Karnataka on Sunday reported 1,001 fresh COVID-19 infections and 2 deaths taking the total cases and mortalities to 28,94,557 and 36,374 respectively.
There were 23,419 active cases in the state while as many as 1,465 patients recovered in the state taking the total recoveries to 28,34,741.
Bengaluru Urban district reported 165 infections, which is the highest among all the districts of the state whereas three deaths were reported on Sunday. The city has so far reported 12,24,760 infections and 15,832 deaths.
There were 8,215 active cases. Other districts in the state too reported infections with Dakshina Kannada logging 115, followed by Udupi (110), Mysuru (97), Hassan (90), Kodagu (63) and Chikkamagaluru (62).
The Karnataka tourism department has decided to introduce two buses to ferry visitors to Nandhi hills soon.
According to the department, the tempo traveller buses provided by the department will be parked at the parking lot, which will soon come up at the foothills.
The buses will ferry tourists till Mayura Hotel circle and will charge Rs 25 per person, the department said.
Nandi Hills draws a large number of visitors from Bengaluru, especially on weekends, as it offers a splendid view of sunrise and sunset. The hill station lies 30 kilometres away from Bengaluru airport and about 60 kilometres from Bengaluru city.
Historically, the hill station goes back to the time of Tipu Sultan, who used to frequent the place as a summer retreat.
There will be no power supply in the following areas starting from July 26 to 31 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
According to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) the power cut is for replacing 15 old 11KV Areva switchgear with new MEI switchgear of Bank-1 and Bank-2, at 66/11kv Austin Town Sub-Station.
According to an official release, the areas affected are: Victoria Layout, Palm Grove Road, Agaram,Viveknagar, Sonnenahalli, Vannarpet. Austin Town, Anjaneya Temple Street, KSRP Quatrus, Lindon street, Palm Grove Road, Xavior Layout, Y.G. Palyam F2 FEEDER: Air Force Hospital, Domlur, Lifestyle, Campbell Road Junction, Richmond Road, Rudrappa Garden, Austin town, Neelasandra, Bazar Street, R.K. Garden, Rose Garden, ORC road.
Heavy rains, accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds, lashed parts of Bengaluru on Sunday evening, leaving low-lying roads and houses flooded.
According to Bengaluru civic body flooding was reported on many roads in the city including, Bannerghatta road, Mysuru road, MG Road, Rajarajeshwarinagar Arch, Coffee Board junction, Yeswanthpur, Vittal Mallya Road, Town Hall, Minerva Circle, Magadi Road, and under the railway bridge near Khoday’s Circle.
According to the alerts by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, highest rainfall of 100.5 mm was recorded at Hemmigepura, 77.5 mm at H. Gollahalli, 75.5 mm in Jnana Bharathi ward, 67 mm at Hampinagar, and 66.5 mm in Kengeri.
Following strong indications of a change of guard in Karnataka over the last two weeks, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa is likely to step down from the post of Chief Minister after his government completes two years on Monday.
On Sunday, Yediyurappa said he was waiting for a communication from the party high command to move on his resignation. In Panaji, meanwhile, BJP president J P Nadda praised Yediyurappa and dismissed suggestions of a crisis in Karnataka.
“He (Yediyurappa) has done good work. Karnataka is running well. Yediyurappaji is handling things in his own way,” Nadda said. Asked if there was a political crisis in the state, he said: “Aisa aapko lagta hai, humko nahi lagta (That is what you feel. We don’t feel so).”
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The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA), 2000, a stringent law modelled on the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, is at the centre of a controversy in Karnataka relating to its use in the case of journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder in 2017.
On April 22, the Karnataka High Court ordered dropping of KCOCA charges against Mohan Nayak, a key accused in the murder. Nayak, 50, is also accused of being an integral part of an organised crime syndicate that shot down Lankesh. As the BJP-led state government delayed over mounting a challenge against the High Court order, the slain journalist’s sister Kavitha Lankesh has moved the Supreme Court over the dropping of KCOCA charges.
At the heart of the controversy is a clause under which any person arrested for an organised crime, even an abettor, is considered a member of the organised gang involved in the crime, if any of the persons arrested for the crime has one or more preceding chargesheets for similar crimes in the previous 10 years.
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