Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 15: Angered by pressure being exerted on him from various quarters relating to expansion of his ministry, chief minister (CM) B S Yediyurappa, shot back by offering to resign. He said he is not too greedy to get glued to the CM's chair at any cost.

For the first time in the recent past, Yediyurappa gave vent to the pent up pressure within him, after being sworn in as chief minister of Karnataka for the fourth time. His words are being deciphered as having come out of delay in ministry expansion.

Yediyurappa made the said offer when taking part in the 'Hara Jatra' celebrations of Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchamasali religious order at Harihar in Davanagere district on Tuesday April 14. He reacted sharply after Sri Vachanananda Swamiji, in his address, insisted that the community will support him only if Yediyurappa gives three ministerial berths to Panchamasali community, and that Murugesh Nirani should be made minister at any cost.

Giving clarification after the Swamiji finished his speech, the chief minister requested the concerned to understand his predicament. "Seventeen legislators including ministers resigned and faced ordeal for four months. If they had not made this sacrifice, I would not have become chief minister and BJP would not have risen to power in Karnataka," he said.

Many analyse the chief minister's offer to resign as a warning to central leadership. He is frustrated by frequent postponements relating to ministry expansion as the top leaders are not giving him time to meet them and discuss the issue. At the same time, disqualified MLAs who got elected some who did not, have been bringing constant pressure on him as they have waited too long. It is said that Yediyurappa said these words to send clear message to the top leaders of the party that he cannot be taken for granted and he does not like to get bogged down for too long. He has made it clear many a time that he wants his promises made to the legislators who crossed over to the BJP to be met under all circumstances.