BJP’s legislature party in Karnataka has elected Lingayat leader Basavaraj S Bommai as the next chief minister of Karnataka. Bommai is considered to be a close confidant of caretaker chief minister B S Yediyurappa, who tendered his resignation on Monday. The announcement was made by BJP observer for the state and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The new leader proposal was made by senior leader B S Yediyurappa and was supported by Govind Karjol, R Ashok, K S Eshwarappa, B Sriramulu, S T Somashekar, Poornima Srinivas, and the newly elected legislature party leader and new Chief Minister will be Basavaraj Bommai,” BJP’s central observers and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Speaking to media persons after the announcement. Bommai said it is a big responsibility under the present situation.

“It is a big responsibility in the given situation. I will strive to work for the welfare of the poor. It will be pro-people and pro-poor people governance,” Karnataka CM elect Basavaraj S Bommai said.

61-year-old Bommai, famous for his clean image in the state, is the son of former chief minister, the late S R Bommai.

The decision to elect the new party leader in the state took place in the presence of Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and G Kishan Reddy. They both were appointed as central observers by the parliamentary board of the BJP.

Earlier on Monday, Yediyurappa had stepped down as the Chief Minister, coinciding with his government completing two years in office. His resignation has been accepted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.