Karnataka former Chief Minister Yediyurappa declines Bommai’s decision to grant cabinet status

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa has asked the Karnataka government to withdraw its order giving him cabinet-rank facilities even as he resigned as the state’s chief minister last month.

On Saturday, the Karnataka government’s Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) issued an order, stating that BS Yediyurappa will continue to receive government facilities on par with cabinet-rank ministers.

The order stated that Yediyurappa would remain the beneficiary of cabinet-rank facilities such as same salary, government vehicle, official accommodation, until Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is in office. However, Yediyurappa wrote to CM Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday, requesting him to roll back the order.

Yediyurappa also said he would only use the facilities that a former chief minister gets. Currently, Yediyurappa does not hold any official position other than being a MLA from Shikaripura constituency. After months of speculation, BS Yediyurappa stepped down from the post of Karnataka chief minister on July 26, which was also the day his government completed two years in the state.

On July 28, Yediyurappa’s deputy Basavaraj Bommai took oath as the new chief minister of Karnataka. Like Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai belongs to the powerful Lingayat community in Karnataka.