Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Tuesday submitted his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala shortly after losing the confidence motion in the Assembly. Soon after the outcome, Kumaraswamy drove to the Raj Bhavan along with deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and other senior colleagues and handed over the resignation, officials said.

“I hereby tender my resignation to the post of chief minister of Karnataka along with my cabinet and I request you to kindly accept the same. I take this opportunity to extend grateful thanks for the cooperation given to me and my colleagues during the tenure,” the letter said. In his letter to Kumaraswamy, the Governor said, “I have accepted the resignation tendered by you with immediate effect. Until alternate arrangements are made, kindly continue as caretaker Chief Minister. It is needless to state that no executive decisions should be taken during this period.” The confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy was defeated with 99 voting in favour and 105 against it.

“A new era of development will start from now onwards,” said BJP’s Karnataka president B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday soon after the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government lost the confidence vote.

Yeddyurappa, who is likely to take over as chief minister, said “It is the victory of democracy. People were fed up with the Kumaraswamy government. I want to assure the people of Karnataka that a new era of development will start from now onwards,” he said. The BJP state chief, who had served as the chief minister of the State thrice, said his focus will be farmers hard hit by drought and other problems.

“Our farmers are suffering due to drought and other reasons. In the coming days we assure the people of Karnataka that we will give more importance to the farmers so that they can live happily,” he said.

BJP will stake claim to form the next government in Karnataka on Wednesday after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala, state BJP leader R. Ashoka said.