TheBJP top leadership went into a huddle on Monday to find a successor ofKarnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who has resigned from the office.
Toelect the new chief minister of Karnataka, the BJP will appoint centralobservers by Monday evening. It is learnt that BJP chief J.P. Nadda, union Homeminister Amit Shah and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh met in Parliament houseafter Yediyurappa's resignation and discussed the situation in Karnataka.
Accordingto sources in the party, the BJP appointed central observers for the KarnatakaLegislative Party meeting to find out a successor of Yediyurappa.
"Centralobserver will be appointed by the evening. Till BJP MLAs elect the new leaderof Legislative Party, Yediyurappa will work as acting chief minister ofKarnataka," sources said.
Aparty insider said that the meeting between Nadda, Shah and Singh met for anhour and a detailed discussion was held to find out the new chief minister ofKarnataka.
Sourcessaid that some names have been shortlisted by the central leadershipconsidering caste equation in the state. "Caste plays an important factorin Karnataka politics and selection of new chief minister will be consideringsocial equations of the state," sources said.
Puttingan end to speculations about his removal, Yediyurappa submitted his resignationto Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot in the state capital on Monday. After hisresignation, Yediyurappa tweeted, "It has been an honour to have servedthe state for the past two years. I have decided to resign as the ChiefMinister of Karnataka. I am humbled and sincerely thank the people of the statefor giving me the opportunity to serve them."
Inanother tweet, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda and Shah fortheir support. "I am grateful to PM @narendramodi Ji, @JPNadda Ji &@AmitShah Ji for their support," he tweeted.
Duringhis two days visit to the national capital recently, Yediyurappa repeatedlydenied possible change of guard in the state. There was strong resentmentagainst Yediyurappa within the party. During his visit to Delhi, Yediyuruppamet Prime Minister Modi, Nadda, Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Hisvisit to New Delhi came in the backdrop of growing voices against him in thestate unit.
"Duringthe visit to Delhi, Yediyurappa was asked to resign over lots of oppositionwithin the party against him," a party functionary said.