From clerk to BJP's first CM in South India, a glimpse of Yeddyurappa’s political journey

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossed majority mark in afternoon trends, BS Yeddyurappa was set to return to power in the southern state of Karnataka after seven.

The BJP was leading in 117 seats while the ruling Congress was ahead in only 60 constituencies in Karnataka, according to the trends. Yeddyurappa was the first BJP CM in any south Indian state (2008-2011) but had to resign from the post over corruption charges in the illegal mining scam.

However, despite the charges of corruption, the BJP once again fought the Karnataka battle on Yeddyurappa’s name and the decision to go with him proved right as the party was looking to get a simple majority.

Also Read | Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulls it off for BJP, captures Karnataka - gateway to South India

Here is a brief profile of BS Yeddyurappa:

1. Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa or BS Yeddyurappa was born in Bookanakere village of Mandya District in Karnataka.

2. Yeddyurappa married in 1967 and has two sons and three daughters. His wife, Maithra Devi passed away in 2004.

3. After completing his Pre-University College education from PES College, Mandya, which is equivalent to 12^th standard, he worked as a clerk in Veerabhadra Shastri’s Shankar rice mill.

4. In 1967, Yeddyurappa married Mythradevi. She was the daughter of Veerabhadra Shastri, the owner rice mill, where he worked as a clerk.

5. Yeddyurappa’s political career began in 1979 when he became the secretary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Shikaripur.

6. He first contested the election in 1983 from Shikaripura constituency and became an MLA. Since then, he had represented the constituency six times.

7. He came to the center of Karnataka politics when he helped JD-S’s HD Kumaraswamy to topple Dharam Singh government. He became deputy chief minister in Kumaraswamy’s government.

8. In Karnataka’s 2008 Assembly elections, Yeddyurappa led the BJP to a historic victory in the state and Karnataka became the gateway to the south India for the saffron party.

9. However, he was asked to resign from the post after his name featured in the illegal mining case.

10. After resigning from the post and party, Yeddyurappa’s formed his own party- Karnataka Janata Paksha but merged with the BJP at the time of 2014 Lok Sabha elections.