In the wake of speculation about a leadership change in Karnataka, Honnahalli MLA MP Renukacharya on Monday said that more than 65 MLAs have written in support of BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister of the state.

Renukacharya, who is also Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s political secretary, said he has also spoken to BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh.

Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kateel, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and others have also shown confidence in Yediyurappa as the CM, added Renukacharya.

On Sunday, BJP’s four-term Lok Sabha MP from Dharwad constituency Pralhad Joshi asserted that there was no proposal before the party’s high command to seek Yediyurappa’s resignation.

“There is no proposal before the high command for seeking Yediyurappa’s resignation,” Joshi told the media at Hubballi in the state’s northwest region.

“The party is seized of only one issue and that is how to handle the COVID-19 situation and not leadership change,” claimed Joshi.

Meanwhile, Kateel also ruled out discussions regarding leadership change.

“As the party has not discussed the issue at any level, the question of a change of leadership does not arise,” Kateel told reporters in Mangaluru.

“Yediyurappa will continue to be Chief Minister for the rest of the (Assembly) term, which is up to May 2023. He is our leader who has vast experience in governance and administration,” added Kateel.

This may be recalled that earlier on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had announced that he will resign from the post the day the party high command asks him to quit.

“High command has given me the opportunity. I am trying to utilise it and I am trying to serve the people. I do not want to comment on the rumours of whoever speaks against me. If my high command wants me to resign, I will resign. I am myself involved working for the development of the state,” he had said.

“I do not feel that there is no alternate leadership in BJP in Karnataka. There are many leaders who are capable,” he had added.

78-year-old Yediyurappa became the Chief Minister for the fourth time on July 26, 2019, after the 14-month-old Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government fell when its Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy tendered his resignation on losing the confidence vote in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on July 23, 2019.