Shanta advises Yeddyurappa to resign without further delay

SHIMLA: BJP National Vice President Shanta Kumar, who had put the party leadership in a fix by demanding replacement of Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Saturday advised the latter to abide by the party's decision and tender his resignation without further delay.

Describing the happenings in Karnataka as "unfortunate", Kumar said Yeddyurappa should not miss this opportunity and cautioned that further delay in his resignation would cause incalculable damage to the party.

The senior BJP leader who was here to address a meeting organised by ABVP's recently floated outfit "youth against corruption" said the new chief minister should be decided by the party and he should have a clean image and blotless public life.

"The outgoing chief minister should be consulted about his successor but the final decision should be taken by the party," he said.

Referring to the reports that Yeddyurappa could be appointed state party president, Kumar said tainted people should not occupy any office in the government or the party.

When asked about his comments about corruption and nepotism in BJP, he said that his remarks covered all political parties where dynastic succession had become order of the day.

On the allegations of corruption being leveled against the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh by party MP, Rajan Sushant, he said that the matter was under consideration of the high command but the "yardstick for corruption and indiscipline" should be uniform for all.