Amid heightened buzz that his exit was on the cards, Karnataka Chief B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday indicated that his exit was imminent and said that he would remain in the post till the BJP’s central leadership asks him to step down.
The 78-year-old Lingayat strongman said that the party leadership is likely to give him directions on 25 July about his future as the Chief Minister, and that he will continue to perform his duties till the last minute. He also made it clear that he will neither exert any pressure nor make any suggestions regarding who his successor should be.
“I still haven’t got any message (regarding his future as CM), I’m waiting if there will be any message on July 25. I will abide by the centre’s decision, I have said this in the past and I’m saying it once again,” Yediyurappa said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said he had offered to resign two months ago with an intention to make way for others. “Whether in power or not, I will travel across the state and work towards strengthening the organisation and bringing the party back to power. As long as I’m asked to be the Chief Minister, I will remain in the post; when I’m told they don’t want me in the post I will work towards strengthening the organisation,” he added. Yediyurappa’s government will be completing two years in office on 26 July.
Stating that he will continue with the work and will inspect the development works in Bengaluru on Friday like construction of roads and rajakaluves (storm water drains), the Chief Minister said, “I will perform my duties till the last minute, let’s see what happens at the end.”
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