Yeddyurappa Resignation: Ashadam Comes in Way

Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was asked to resign by his party in the wake of the Lokayukta indictment in illegal mining scam. A reluctant Yeddyurappa said that he will step down as per the party diktat, but only on Sunday (31-07-11).

Along with Yeddyurappa, the Reddy brothers have been strongly indicted in his findings on illegal mining by the Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, which have plunged the state into a political turmoil. Yeddyurappa's indictment pertained to violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Lokayukta also submitted a copy of his report to Governor H R Bhardwaj recommending to him to initiate "further steps".

In his first comments after the BJP asked him to step down, Yeddyurappa said he had toiled for 40 years to build the party in Karnataka from scratch and it was his 'committed desire' to work for its development in future also.  Stating that he is a disciplined worker of BJP, Yeddyurappa said he has decided to tender his resignation from the post of chief minister as per the direction of the party. "The month of 'Ashadam' (considered inauspicious) will be over on July 30. I will be tendering my resignation as Chief Minister on the forenoon of July 31," he said in a statement late last night.