Yeddyurappa sends resignation to Gadkari, to meet Governor

Ending three days of suspense, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today sent his resignation to BJP President Nitin Gadkari and expressed his "full support" to the party.

Yeddyurappa, who was asked by the Central leadership to quit after the state Lokayukta indicted him in mining issue, faxed the letter to Gadkari who accepted it, party sources said here.

In the letter, the Chief Minister has given reasons for the delay in putting in his papers and cited astrological issues as the main cause, they said.

The sources said Yeddyurappa, who became Chief Minister after installing BJP's first government in the South, will seek an appointment with Governor HR Bhardwaj and formally submit his resignation.

After his tense standoff with the BJP leadership, Yeddyurappa had said he would tender his resignation today after the party reportedly assured him that his views would be considered while choosing his successor.

68-year-old Yeddyurappa made the fresh affirmation yesterday falling in line with the directive of the party leadership which took a tough stand.

The BJP Parliamentary Board had on Thursday asked Yeddyurappa to resign immediately, but the Lingayat strongman mobilised his loyalist MLAs and ministers who insisted on his continuance, in a sign of defiance.

However, he issued a press statement yesterday saying that he would step down this afternoon.

In his letter to Gadkari, Yeddyurappa vowed to "stand by the party" and expressed "full support" to it, the sources said.

Yeddyurappa's successor is also likely to be announced today with the names of Lok Sabha MP Sadanand Gowda, Ministers VS Acharya and Suresh Kumar S doing the rounds for the top post.

However, a dark horse from the Yeddyurappa camp may also emerge as a choice for the job.

Yeddyurappa has been opposing the appointment of BJP General Secretary Anant Kumar and his cabinet colleague Jagdish Shattar, also from the Lingayat community, as the next chief minister.