Bangalore: As the deadlock over selecting
his successor continued, outgoing chief minister BS
Yeddyurappa on Monday 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 yesterday, 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
