BJP Parliamentary Board asks Yeddy to quit immediately

Embattled Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was today asked to resign immediately by the BJP's top brass after it decided for a change in leadership in the state, a day after his severe indictment by the Lokayukta in the illegal mining scam.

Ending the uncertainty over the fate of the 68-year-old Yeddyurappa who headed the BJP''s first government in the south after his indictment, the BJP Parliamentary Board today met and unanimously decided there should be a change in leadership in Karnataka and "advised" him to resign immediately.

"The BJP Parliamentary Board unanimously decided there has to be a change in the leadership of the BJP legislature party in the state of Karnataka. Accordingly, it has advised Yeddyurappa, the present chief minister, to tender his resignation immediately," BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters after a meeting of the board at the residence of the president Nitin Gadkari.

The Board, the party's highest decision making body, also decided to send senior leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley as observers to Bangalore tomorrow to oversee the election of Yeddyurappa''s successor. Yeddyurappa assumed office in May 2008.

"Tomorrow, Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh will go to Bangalore for the election of the new leader of the BJP legislature party," Prasad said.
The meeting was attended among others by L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharam said the Board''s decision has been conveyed to Yeddyurappa and discounted suggestions of a possible rebellion in the Karnataka unit of the party.

Yeddyurappa has already informed Gadkari that he would abide by whatever decision taken by the party leadership, she said.

In Bangalore, some Ministers and MLAs have gathered at the Race Course residence of Yeddyurappa who returned to Bangalore this morning after parleys with the BJP leadership in New Delhi which went on till 2 am.