Basavaraj Bommai to replace BS Yediyurappa as Karnataka CM, swearing-in tomorrow

New Delhi: The BJP legislature party has elected Basavaraj S Bommai as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. Basavaraj Bommai was the Home Minister in the BS Yediyurappa government and was among the top contenders for the Chief Minister's post. Just like the outgoing Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who resigned on Monday, the new Chief Minister is also from the politically influential Lingayat community.

"I will take everyone along with me in administration. It is going to be a pro-people government. Addressing the challenges of COVID and natural calamity will be my priority," he said. "The situation of finances in the state is not good. Will take steps to improve the situation," he said.

On the Cabinet, he said that he will meet Governor Thaawarchand Ghelot on Tuesday night and later discuss the matter with party leaders. Bommai, who is seen as a close confidante of outgoing Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, said, "Yediyurappa is always going to be our leader."

"I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah for the opportunity. Yediyurappa has blessed me," he added. "Party legislators have elected me unanimously and I will live up to their expectations," he said.

According to party sources, Bommai, a Lingayat leader from North Karnataka, had the backing of the outgoing Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to succeed him. Basavaraj Bommai is the son of former chief minister, the late SR Bommai. The 61-year-old leader was Minister for Home Affairs, Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislature in Yediyurappa's council of ministers which was dissolved on Monday.

"The new leader proposal was made by senior leader B S Yediyurappa and was supported by Govind Karjol, R Ashok, K S Eshwarappa, B 
Sriramulu, ST Somashekar, Poornima Srinivas, and the newly elected legislature party leader and new Chief Minister will be Basavaraj Bommai," BJP's central observers and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said after the meeting.

Soon after the announcement, Bommai sought the blessings of Yediyurappa, and he was greeted by other party leaders. The legislature party meeting to elect the new leader took place at a city hotel in the presence of Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and G Kishan Reddy who were appointed as central observers by BJP's parliamentary board.

It was attended by BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, national general secretary C T Ravi, among others. Known for his "clean and non-controversial" image, Bommai is considered among the close confidants of Yediyurappa. Ending months of speculation over his exit, Yediyurappa on Monday stepped down as the Chief Minister, coinciding with his government completing two years in office.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted the 78-year-old BJP veteran's resignation, and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him, with immediate effect. The notification from the Raj Bhavan said Yediyurappa shall continue to function as Chief Minister till alternative arrangements are made.

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