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National News
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| Karnataka: BJP embarrassed as Yeddyurappa steps down | | | | Bangalore, May 19 (Agencies): In a dramatic turnaround of events, the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa Saturday quit as Chief Minister just before a trust vote that, many said, he had a good chance of losing. Till an hour before the Supreme Court-ordered floor test, there was commotion over two Congress lawmakers who were missing from the assembly in the morning.
The Congress alleged that they had been "held captive" by a BJP desperate for numbers, and also released a series of audio tapes that it claimed proved that attempts were being made to bribe lawmakers. In an emotional speech before his resignation, Mr Yeddyurappa said it was his dream to be Chief Minister at a time PM Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister.
"I come from a background of struggle. I will lose nothing if I lose power... I am going straight to Governor's house to give my resignation," Mr Yeddyurappa told assembly at the end of an emotionally charged speech.
Turning to the Congress-JDS combine chief ministerial candidate HD Kumaraswamy, Mr Yeddyurappa said, "Dear Kumaraswamy, I am a fighter and I will fight till my last breath"F ormer Chief Minister Siddaramaih was quick to react. "Democracy has won in Karnataka. The conspiracy made by the BJP has failed to authorize the anti-constitutional measures," he tweeted.
Pertinently, BS Yeddyurappa's party, the BJP, with 104 seats, was eight short of the majority-mark - 111.The opposition Congress and Janata Dal has accused the BJP of trying to bribe and threaten their lawmakers. The Congress has released audio tapes as proof. | | | | |
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