Yediyurappa's close confidant Basavaraj Bommai named new Chief Minister of Karnataka

"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, S T 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 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.

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.

During his speech, Yediyurappa thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda and said that he will work to strengthen the party as per the expectations of the Central leaders.