Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 25: With no official word yet from the BJP high command on leadership change in the state, chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday July 25 evening said that a decision on whether he will continue in office or not will be known by Monday July 26.
The speculation about change of guard had gained momentum in the state after the 78-year-old Lingayat strongman and BJP's aging mascot in Karnataka had stated that he would abide by the party high command's decision whether to remain CM or step down.
Earlier in the day, Yediyurappa had said he expected a message from the party high command on his possible resignation by evening. In the evening however, he told reporters that he was yet to receive any word from the party's central leadership on whether he should continue in his post or quit.
"Our party leaders will inform me on Sunday (July 25) evening and I will follow their diktat on Monday (January 26), as I will be completing two years in the office," he had told reporters.
After his return from day-long tour of flood-hit Belagavi district on Sunday, Yediyurappa told reporters that he had not received any message from the central leaders and as soon as he received, he would share it with the media first.
"In the morning, there is a programme to mark two years of government. I will speak about the achievements in those two years. After that, you will know the progress," he said in response to a question as to why his daily programme after 1.30 pm has been left blank.
"I have decided that I will work till the very last minute. I already said two months ago that I am ready to resign whenever I was asked by our party leaders. I will reiterate it again - until now I have got no message from them (party high command). As soon as it comes... if they ask me to continue, I will. If not, I will resign and work for that party," he said.
The chief minister said that he believes that the information may come on Sunday night or Monday morning.
The 78-year-old made a sudden visit to Delhi last week where he met the Prime Minister and other senior leaders.
Earlier, speaking to reporters at the district headquarters town of Belagavi, he said he would abide by the decision of the high command, 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.
He said he has the "lone target" of toiling for the next two years and bringing the BJP back to power in Karnataka, where Assembly elections are due in 2023.
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.
No crisis in Karnataka, Yediyurappa has done good work: BJP national president
Meanwhile, BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday ruled out any crisis and said chief minister B S Yediyurappa has done good work.
"Yediyurappa has done good work. Karnataka is doing well. Yediyurappa is taking care of the things in his own way," Nadda told reporters in Panaji.
When asked if there is a leadership crisis in the southern state, Nadda said, "That is what you feel. We don't feel so."
Nadda's remarks assume significance as they come on a day when the Karnataka CM said he will take an appropriate decision once he receives directions from the BJP high command regarding his continuation in the post.
With inputs from agencies