Yeddyurappa sends resignation to Gadkari, to meet Governor

New Delhi (PTI) - Ending three days of suspense,
south Indian state Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa
Sunday sent his resignation to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
President Nitin Gadkari and expressed his "full support" to
the party.
Yeddyurappa, who was asked by the Central leadership
to quit after the state Lokayukta indicted him in mining
issue, faxed the letter to Gadkari who accepted it, party
sources said here.
In the letter, the Chief Minister has given reasons
for the delay in putting in his papers and cited astrological
issues as the main cause, they said.
The sources said Yeddyurappa, who became Chief
Minister after installing BJP's first government in the South,
will seek an appointment with Governor H R Bhardwaj and
formally submit his resignation.
After his tense standoff with the BJP leadership,
Yeddyurappa had said he would tender his resignation Sunday
after the party reportedly assured him that his views would be
considered while choosing his successor.
68-year-old Yeddyurappa made the fresh affirmation
Saturday falling in line with the directive of the party
leadership which took a tough stand.
The BJP Parliamentary Board had on Thursday asked
Yeddyurappa to resign immediately, but the Lingayat strongman
mobilised his loyalist MLAs and ministers who insisted on his
continuance, in a sign of defiance.
However, he issued a press statement Saturday saying
that he would step down this afternoon.
In his letter to Gadkari, Yeddyurappa vowed to "stand
by the party" and expressed "full support" to it, the sources
said.
Yeddyurappa's successor is also likely to be announced
Sunday with the names of Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian
parliamennt) MP Sadanand Gowda, Ministers V S Acharya and
Suresh Kumar S doing the rounds for the top post.
However, a dark horse from the Yeddyurappa camp may
also emerge as a choice for the job.
Yeddyurappa has been opposing the appointment of BJP
General Secretary Anant Kumar and his cabinet colleague
Jagdish Shattar, also from the Lingayat community, as the next
chief minister.