Suspense continues as BSY says his fate will be decided today

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Sunday that a decision on whether he will continue in office will be known by Monday, but asserted that he will continue to work for the BJP for the next 10-15 years.

The 78-year-old Lingayat strongman said on Sunday evening that he is yet to receive the “message” from the party’s central leadership on whether he should continue in his post or quit.

He expressed confidence that the communication may come by Sunday night or Monday morning, he said.

Stating that he had offered to resign two months ago if the party wished so, he reiterated that he will continue in the post if the party central leadership desires so; he will quit if they ask him to resign and “I will do my party’s work.

“I will work for the party day and night for the next 10-15 years. Let there be no doubt about it,” the Chief Minister said.

He said he will speak on the achievements of his government at a function, as planned earlier, on Monday. “After that, other things, you will come to know.”

Asked what if the “message” does not come from the central leadership, Yediyurappa said: “I will take a decision then.”

Earlier, speaking to reporters, he reiterated that he will abide by the decision of the party’s central leadership, and said that he was “content and satisfied” and would not cross the disciplinary line.

“I got most of the positions in the party, which no one else might have got in Karnataka for which I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J.P. Nadda,” Yediyurappa said.

Yediyurappa agreed with BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi’s statement that everyone in the BJP was an ordinary party worker and he would abide by the party’s instruction.

“He is 100 per cent right. We will not exceed the disciplinary line. We have been following it and would do so in future as well,” the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, state Congress president D.K. Shivakumar challenged the BJP government, saying: “People of the state are struggling to save their lives due to flood and covid and the government has failed to save them. Hence, he has said dissolve this Assembly and go to people and get a fresh mandate.” 

Speaking to media from his Bangalore’s Sadashivanagar residence, he said: “Dissolve the current Assembly and face the elections. Let us see who will form a new government as per the people’s mandate.”