Ahead of the crucial Karnataka Assembly Election 2023, BJP patriarch BS Yediyurappa announced quitting politics. While giving his farewell speech, the lingayat strongman and four-time chief minister of Karnataka asserted that he’ll continue serving the BJP till his ‘last breath’.

Takeaways From His Farewell Speech

• This is my farewell speech because I won’t enter this Assembly again.
• I have already announced that I will not contest the election this time…But until my last breath, I will actively work for the party’s success.
• In the coming election, but also the one after that if God grants me that strength.”
• I want to make it clear that I have been sworn in as chief minister four times. No other leader has been given these many opportunities.
• I will remain eternally grateful to Prime Minister.
• It is not possible to silence Yediyurappa. We will come back to power.
• “I will take up a state-wide tour. After this session, I will go across Karnataka. I will have to convey to the people the schemes of the BJP. The ruling BJP government has given more programmes than any other government.”

• A Look Into His Political Career

  • The septuagenarian Lingayat leader had begun his electoral politics as ‘Purasabha’ president in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district.
  • He was first elected to the Assembly from Shikaripura in 1983 and went on to win eight times from there.
  • In 1994, he was named the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
  • In 1999, he was nominated by the BJP to the Upper House of the Karnataka Legislature despite losing elections.
  • In 2004, he was re-elected and served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly during the chief ministership of Dharam Singh.
  • On 12th November 2007, Yediyurappa was sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka after JD(S) and BJP buried their differences.
  • He served as the CM of the state for four terms in 2007, 2008, 2018 and 2019.
  • On July 2021 he announced his resignation as Chief Minister.
  • BSY, who is considered the BJP’s most trusted strongman never completed a five-year tenure in office as chief minister.

  Yediyurappa’s Personal Life

  • BSY is an ardent follower of Basavanna.
  • In 1967, he tied the knot with the daughter of the rice mill owner, Mythradevi.
  • The couple has two sons (B.Y. Raghavendra, and B.Y. Vijayendra) and three daughters Arunadevi, Padmavati and Umadevi.
  • In 2004, Mythradevi died after falling into a sump while drawing water.