Bangalore, August 1: As the deadlock over selecting his successor continued, outgoing chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has expressed confidence that the leadership issue will be resolved amicably by central leaders of the BJP.
”I am confident that the national leaders will solve the leadership issue in Karnataka amicably which will be just and proper,” Yeddyurappa, who submitted his resignation to governor HR Bhardwaj on Sunday, told reporters here.
Recalling his long association with central leaders of the party, he said he had the utmost regard and respect for leaders like LK Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, Rajanath Singh and Sushma Swaraj. “Specially Atalji (AB Vajpayee) and Advaniji who have guided me for the last 30 years in my political career.
”During my tenure as chief minister for three years, our leaders have guided and extended cooperation, I had an opportunity to interact with experts in different fields namely U R Rao, Kasturi Rangan (both space scientists), and Mohandas Pai (former Infosys director) and have the benefit of their experience in implementing various programmes. I am thankful to all of them.”
He thanked MLAs, MLCs, MPs, his cabinet colleagues and all officers of the state saying “without their support, it was not possible to implement pro-people programmes”.
Thanking the media for playing an “important role in the development of his political career”, Yeddyurappa said he had decided to tour the entire state in the coming days to strengthen the party.
Ending on an emotional note, he said, “Power is not permanent, it is what you do that is permanent. I want to see the light in the eyes of the farmers.”
Yeddyurappa resigned following a directive by the party central leadership in the wake of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining indicting him and four of his ministerial colleagues. PTI
