Even as Karnataka Lokayukta Mr. N.Santosh Hegde said that chief minister BS Yedyurappa can be prosecuted for his involvement in the illegal mining activities in the state, the crestfallen chief minister left for Delhi to meet his party bigwigs.

The BJP high command is reportedly thinking of replacing him with Jagadeesh Shettor or Eswarappa.

Speaking to news persons in Bangalore this evening after his registrar Kunhi Nair Moole submitted the 9000-page report on illegal mining to the state Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath at the Vidhana Soudha, Hegde said that illegal mining was rampant in the state and is a reality in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts.

“It is up to the Governor to take a decision on the prosecution of the chief minister,” said Hegde. The report is likely to decide the political fate of Yeddyurappa, his four ministers, including the two Reddy brothers, former chief minister H.D. Kumara Swamy and Congress Rajya Sabha member and mining baron Anil Lad as well as about 500 officials.

Earlier, before leaving for Delhi, Yeddyurappa said that he would not resign and threatened to dissolve the assembly and go for fresh elections if necessary.  But reports indicated that he is likely to be replaced by Jagadeesh Shettor or Eswarappa.