'Urge everyone to not indulge in protests/indiscipline': BS Yediyurappa tweets amid rumours of his exit

Calling himself a "loyal worker" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Karnataka CM wrote: "I am privileged to be a loyal worker of BJP. It is my utmost honour to serve the party with highest standards of ethics & behaviour. I urge everyone to act in accordance with party ethics & not indulge in protests/indiscipline that is disrespectful & embarrassing for the party."

The tweet is seen as a subtle hint to the Centre, at a time he has been racking up support from religious leaders and even a former Congress minister.

Yediyurappa's sudden trip to Delhi last week to meet the BJP's top brass had raised speculations about how long he would continue in his post.

While in Delhi, when asked about rumours of a leadership change in the state BJP, he told reporters: "There is no truth in it. Not at all. Not at all. Not at all."

Yediyurappa, 78, is BJP's first and only Chief Minister in south India.

He has completed almost two years of his term since he took over from the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in July 2019.

Recently, he is facing what was seen as hostility from some BJP MLAs in the state.

Some leaders including MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Tourism Minister CP Yogeshwar and MLC AH Vishwanath have spoken against Yediyurappa, despite warnings of disciplinary action by the leadership.

On Tuesday in an attempt to gather support, Yediyurappa met mutt chiefs, or powerful priests of the state.

The move has been seen by many as a message to the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).