Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa, often referred as BSY, is an Indian politician. He is currently serving as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentary board committee since 17 August 2022, termed as the highest office of authority in the party. He served as the 13th Chief Minister of Karnataka, and he was former Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly between 1983 - 2022 in different timelines. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is also the only politician so far in Karnataka to have served four times as the Chief Minister and three times as the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He is the longest serving BJP Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is former MLA from Shikaripura constituency in Shimoga district, from where he has been elected eight times.

After days of speculation, Yediyurappa resigned as Chief Minister on 26 July 2021, the second anniversary of his fourth term. He was succeeded by his protégé, Basavaraj Bommai, on 28 July 2021.

Personal life

Yediyurappa was born on 27 February 1943 in a village called Bookanakere in Krishnarajpet taluk of Mandya district. His parents were Siddalingappa and Puttathayamma. He was named after the presiding deity of a Shaivite temple built by the great saint Siddalingeshwara at Yediyur in Tumkuru district. His mother died when he was four. He completed his Pre-University College education from Government college, Mandya (Mysore University) 1960–61. He belongs to Banajiga sub-cast of veerashaiva Lingayat community.

In 2007, he changed the spelling of his name to Yeddyurappa from the earlier Yediyurappa following the advice of his astrologers, to change back again to Yediyurappa before oath taking ceremony on 26 July 2019. He is a follower of Basavanna. In 2020 he was infected by the COVID-19 virus but recovered soon afterwards. On 16 April 2021, he again tested positive for COVID-19 amidst India's second wave of infections.

Political career

Having been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from his college days, Yediyurappa's public service began when he was appointed as Karyavaha (Secretary) of the Sangh's Shikaripur unit in 1970. In 1972, he was elected to the Shikaripura Town Municipality and was also appointed as the President of the Taluk unit of the Jana Sangh. In 1975, he was elected President of the Town Municipality of Shikaripura. He was imprisoned during the Emergency in India and lodged in the Bellary and Shimoga jails. In 1980, he was appointed President of the Shikaripura taluk unit of the BJP and later went on to become the president of BJP's Shimoga district unit in 1985. In 1988, he became the State President of the BJP in Karnataka. He was first elected to the lower house of the Karnataka Legislature in 1983 and has since represented the Shikaripura constituency six times. He has been a member of the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth and Thirteenth Legislative Assemblies (lower house) of Karnataka. Following the 1994 state assembly elections, he became the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. In 1999, he lost the elections but was nominated by the BJP to become a member of the legislative council (upper house) of Karnataka. Again, he was re-elected in 2004 and became the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly during the chief ministership of Dharam Singh.

n November 2013, it was announced that he was considering an unconditional return to the BJP. On 2 January 2014 he announced merger with BJP ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He won from the Shimoga seat of Karnataka in the 2014 Indian general election by a margin of 363,305 votes.

In 2016, BJP re-appointed him as the President of Karnataka state BJP unit. He was BJP's CM candidate in 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election. But the party managed to win only 104 seats, 9 short of simple majority.

In December 2020, the Government of Karnataka, under his leadership passed the Anti Cow-Slaughter bill 2020, in aim to protect and nurture the cattle in the state, that were alleged being slaughtered illegally. The legislation empowered the police to inspect and seize vehicles that transport cattle and the premises where they are slaughtered. The new law brought stern punishment of imprisonment of up to 3 years and a penalty of 50,000 rupees. Amid opposition from the Congress members who staged a walk-out protest, the bill was passed unanimously in the floor of the house, and the law further came into effect in the state.

In August 2022, Yediyurappa was elevated to the Central Parliamentary board, of the BJP. He was one of the member of the 11 board committee, which included Nadda, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and other prominent members. Yediyurappa stated that he was humbled and would work hard in bringing the party to power in the southern states of India.

In February 2023, Yediyurappa made his farewell speech at the Karnataka Legislative assembly as an MLA, and reiterated that he would not be contesting in the upcoming elections in 2023, paving way for others but would work hard to bring the party back to power. Prime Minister Modi tweeted about the same stating it as an "inspiring speech to him and every worker of the party".

Further on 27 February 2023, Narendra Modi greeted and wished Yediyurappa on his 80th birthday, heaped praise about his achievements and also inaugurated the long demanded Shivamogga airport in his presence.