Karnataka dy CM resigns, coalition govt in turmoil

The 110-day-old Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition government in the state suffered a major jolt on Thursday when Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa tendered his resignation due to internal bickerings in the BJP.

Yediyurappa sent his resignation to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and BJP National President Rajnath Singh a day after former Union minister and BJP MP Basanagouda Patil Yatnal accused the deputy CM of nepotism and running the BJP as a personal fiefdom.

This dramatic development forced Kumaraswamy to cut short his visit to New Delhi and return to Bangalore. Yediyurappa has reportedly even vacated his official residence.

"I am unhappy with the developments in the party. I am not above the party. The BJP leadership is free to announce my replacement," Yediyurappa reportedly stated in his resignation letter.

BJP State President Sadananda Gowda met Yediyurappa in the afternoon and advised him against tendering his resignation. However, Yediyurappa went ahead with his resignation.

Ever since the BJP joined hands with the JD (S) to form the government, the BJP camps headed by Yediyurappa and former Union minister Ananthkumar have been at loggerheads.

Yatnal, who belongs to the Ananthkumar camp, first expressed his dissent when his supporters did not make it to the council of ministers.