Dharam Singh resigns

While JD (S) leader Kumaraswamy will be CM for 20 months, BJP's Yediyurappa will rule the next 20 months. Earlier Chief Minister Dharam Singh has sent in resignation to the Governor TN Chaturvedi on Saturday morning through a special messenger.Pics: K'taka crisis

Beleaguered Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on Saturday resigned in what appeared to be a bid to avert an imminent defeat on the floor of the House.

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Dharam Singh has sent in resignation to the Governor TN Chaturvedi on Saturday morning through a special messenger.

Singh's decision came after he was summoned by Governor TN Chaturvedi to discuss the constitutional deadlock arising out of his failure to take the trust vote in the assembly on Friday due to pandemonium that led to its indefinite adjournment.

The resignation is expected to lead to a coalition government of the Janata Dal-Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be led by HD Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. There were also reports that BJP's Yediyurappa, who has been named as the leader of the alliance, would be a strong contender for the CM's post.

This will be the first time the BJP will taste power anywhere in southern India.