BJP To Stake Claim In Karnataka Today; BS Yeddyurappa Set To Become CM For Fourth Time

Following the win, Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa is likely to stake claim to form the government, if accomplished, it would be his fourth stint as Chief Minister of the State.

Following the win, Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa is likely to stake claim to form the government, if accomplished, it would be his fourth stint as Chief Minister of the State. (PTI)

New Delhi: The head of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition, H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday lost the trust vote in the Assembly on the confidence motion he had moved on July 18 to prove majority. Shortly after losing, he submitted his resignation as the chief minister to Governor Vajubhai Vala. This has now paved way for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into power corridors of the state. Following the win, Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa is likely to stake claim to form the government, if accomplished, it would be his fourth stint as Chief Minister of the State. The BJP will stake claim to form the next government in Karnataka on Wednesday after meeting the Governor, state BJP leader R. Ashoka said. Yeddyurappa will meet the Governor today after consulting the party's central leaders. "I will discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (party) All India president Amit Shah ji, afterwords I will meet governor," Yeddyurappa told reporters. Yeddyurappa, who is likely to take over as chief minister, said "It (defeat) is the victory of democracy. People were fed up with the Kumaraswamy government."

Karnataka:BJP's BS Yeddyurappa has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah after Congress-JD(S) govt lost trust vote in assembly.Letter reads,"I extend my heartfelt congratulations&best wishes for support extended by your good self,other leaders of the party&party in general" pic.twitter.com/SIjx8y72EH

— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019

The 76-year-old Yeddyurappa first took over as the chief minister of Karnataka in 2007, but could not hold on to the post for mere seven days after the JD(S) withdrew support and the President's rule was imposed in the state. He again made way to the coveted post in 2008 but again owing to corruption charges failed to complete a full term. Thereafter in 2012, he formed a new party "Karnataka Praja Paksha" but rejoined the BJP before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in which he got elected from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency. In 2018, the BJP veteran again jostled his way to the top post in the state but could not rule the state more than a week as his party failed to garner majority.

#UPDATE: Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislature Party meeting concludes. Another meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow at party office in Bengaluru at 11 am. https://t.co/spZJgjkkw7

— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019

The confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy got 99 votes as against 105 of the opposition leading to its defeat. This brought an end to the 12-day high-voltage political drama which had begun in the state with the resignation of over a dozen rebel MLAs to Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar. Watch | Kumaraswamy govt falls as it loses confidence vote in assembly The political crisis gripped the 14-month-old fledgling government in Karnataka after 13 Congress and 3 JD-S rebels resigned between July 1 and July 10 in protest against weak leadership and lack of development across the southern state. Though the BJP sought Kumaraswamy's resignation for losing majority in the Assembly after the rebels refused to withdraw their resignations and two Independents, who were ministers in his 34-member cabinet, withdrew their support on July 8, a defiant outgoing Chief Minister moved the confidence motion to prove majority in the hope the rebels will return to the coalition fold. (With inputs from agencies)