BS Yeddyurappa is likely to take oath as Karnataka chief minister on Friday. (File photo: PTI)

While the political drama in the Karnataka assembly was in full swing this month, Shobha Karandlaje, MP and general secretary of Karnataka BJP, climbed 1001 steps of the Chamundeshwari Devi temple. Karandlaje undertook the arduous task to pray for BS Yediyurappa (who earlier spelt his name Yeddyurappa) to be the next chief minister of Karnataka.

On Friday, BS Yediyurappa was sworn in as the 19th chief minister of Karnataka -- his fourth shot at the top job.

It is a testimony to Yediyurappa’s political nous that he has been able to stay afloat in the roiling waters of Karnataka politics. That the Bharatiya Janata Party decided to relax its 75-year retirement age for the Lingayat strongman is an attestation to how much of southern fortunes depend on Yediyurappa.

To say that he is a resilient fighter is an understatement. Cut back to May 2018.

Elections to the 16th Karnataka assembly had thrown up a fractured mandate. As leader of the single largest party -- Bharatiya Janata Party -- Yediyurappa was invited by Governor Vajubhai Vala to form the government.

However, Yediyurappa’s government lasted just three days. He refused to take a floor test and resigned. I will not face the confidence vote...I am going to resign...I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation, he told the assembly on May 19, 2018.

Yediyurappa had promised he’d go to the people. He didn’t have to.

The strange glue binding Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) came unstuck on July 23. BJP will again form the government. And BS Yediyurappa will helm it.

Born in February 27, 1943, Yediyurappa has been with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since his college days. He rose up the BJP ranks to be the president of the Karnataka unit in 1988.

A humanities graduate, Yediyurappa worked as a clerk in the state social welfare department. He then moved to Shikaripura and took up a job at a rice mill. There he fell in love with Mythra Devi, the mill owner’s daughter, and married her. He has three daughters and two sons.

In 1983, he made his debut in the Karnataka assembly, representing Shikaripura constituency. He has in all represented Shikaripura six times.

His first stint as chief minister lasted all of seven days (November 12-19 in 2007). His second stint was slightly longer at just over three years, beginning May 2008.

Controversies dogged Yediyurappa during his second stint as chief minister. His name cropped up during investigations into land deals and illegal mining operations. BJP, on the advice of BL Santosh, then an RSS pracharak and now the organising secretary in the BJP, forced Yediyurappa to resign in July 2011.

In a huff he quit BJP and floated Karnataka Janata Paksha. In the 2013 assembly polls he showed the BJP top brass his real worth. The saffron party got 40 seats compared to the110 in 2008.

In January 2014 Yediyurappa merged his outfit with the BJP. The party went on to win 19 of the state’s 28 seats. The prodigal had shown his worth.

In subsequent elections, both at the state and national levels, BJP rode on Yediyurappa’s popularity to tighten its grip on the southern state.

Yediyurappa will be hoping that he completes the tenure of the 16th assembly and not be toppled by avaricious colleagues. He is used to being a short-term CM.

Chamundeshwari Devi has answered Shobha Karandlaje’s prayers. But will Yediyurappa complete his term or are there more twists to the Karnataka tale?

(This story has been updated)