NEW DELHI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- B S Yeddyurappa, the chief minister of India's southwestern state of Karnataka on Saturday announced his resignation minutes before he was supposed to prove his majority in the lawmaking body, officials said.
Yeddyurappa made an emotional speech in the Assembly and then announced he would resign as the chief minister.
"I want to serve the people of the state and save the farmers. For this, I will sacrifice my life this my last breath. Until the farmers see a bright day, I will fight," Yeddyurappa said in his speech.
His party, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), won 104 seats in the recently held local elections of the state and was the largest party. However, it was eight seats short of the majority-mark -111.
Following his announcement, Yeddyurappa went out of the lawmaking body saying he would go to Governor's office to tender the formal resignation.
The opposition Congress party and regional Janata Dal (Secular) have accused the BJP of trying to bribe and threaten their lawmakers.
Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the chief minister on Thursday morning amid high political drama and protests from the opposition Congress and Janta Dal (Secular), who entered into post poll alliance.
The state's governor had controversially given Yeddyurappa 15 days to prove his majority, a condition rejected by India's apex court on Friday.
The Congress party and Janta Dal (Secular) together petitioned in India's Supreme Court against making Yeddyurappa as chief minister. The court ordered Yeddyurappa should prove his majority during a floor test be held at 4:00 p.m.on Saturday (local time).
Right from the morning the Karnataka lawmaking body was abuzz with activities and newly elected legislators were sworn in as lawmakers, a condition for the voting in floor test.
Out of 224 constituencies of the state, elections were held for 222 constituencies.
Congress party bagged 78 seats, while as regional Janta Dal (Secular) has 37 seats. Two seats have been won by independent candidates.
Although, Congress party and Janta Dal (Secular) together met governor to stake the claim for government formation, however he ignored their claim and invited Yeddyurappa.
Both parties together have 115 seats, a clear majority.
Political analysts say following formal resignation of Yeddyurappa, now the governor would invite the Congress party and Janta Dal (Secular) for government formation.?
