Amid speculations about a leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday said he will continue in the top post as long as the BJP high command has confidence in him and he had no confusion about it. The Chief Minister also said, he won’t agree that there was no alternate leader to replace him in the state BJP.
“…as long as the Delhi high command has confidence in me, I will continue as the Chief Minister. The day they will say they don’t want me, I will resign and work day and night for the development of the state,” Yediyurappa said in response to a question on attempts to replace him.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “I’m in no confusion. They (high command) have given me an opportunity, I’m trying beyond my strength to utilise the opportunity for good. Rest is left for the high command.” Responding to a question on “alternate leadership” to him, Yediyurappa said, “I will not criticise anyone. I won’t agree that there is no alternate person. There will always be alternate persons in the state and the country, so I won’t agree that there are no alternate persons in Karnataka, but until the high command has confidence in me I will continue as the Chief Minister.” This is possibly the first time that the 78-year old Lingayat strongman has spoken in detail on the issue of leadership change and regarding an alternate leader to replace him in the state BJP, ever since speculations began in this regard.