Bengaluru: Speculation rife that Karnataka CM BS Yeddiyurappa would have to resign from the post on Monday (July 26) citing health issues. According to the sources, The Centre is likely to decide on the next Karnataka CM by today or tomorrow evening.
Amid rumours, Yeddiyurappa comes out with a sketchy statement about the Dalit successor in the state. The 78-year-old CM earlier said he was willing to leave the office of chief minister due to health issues. He said that he has been waiting for the high command's suggestions and he hinted that the decision on the next CM would be by today or tomorrow evening. "I am not concerned if the high command appoints a Dalit chief minister," said Karnataka CM, who has a huge support base from Veerashaiva-Lingayat community and All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha.
The Centre has to scrutinise at least eight MLAs & ministers to finalise the next Karnataka CM. But, the possible outgoing CM Yeddiyurappa has kept the options open as well while hinting about the successor.
According to a TOI report, the high command has shortlisted eight persons and have added that a leader from the Lingayat community is going to take the onus of the state. The MLAs and ministers being taken into consideration are: "Dharwad West MLA Aravind Bellad, Vijayapura MLA Basannagouda Patil Yatnal, Karnataka Mines and Geology Minister Murgesh R Nirani, Basavaraj Bommai, Pralhad Joshi, BL Santosh, CN Ashwath Narayan, Laxman Savadi, Govind Karjol, Visveshwara Hegde Kageri and CT Ravi,"
In the 2018 election, BJP being the single largest party fell short of the majority to form a government and that's when the Congress and the JDS coalition government came into power. But, within a year, there was a crack in the coalition which led to the collapse of the government as 13 MLAs from Congress and three from JDS defected. Exactly, two years ago on 26 July 2019, BS Yeddiyurappa sworn-in as a Chief Minister after the fall of the coalition government in Karnataka.