Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who remained defiant and refused to put in his papers as directed by the BJP high command initially, at last agreed to step down paving the way for another BJP leader to take over as chief minister, according to reports from Bangalore.

After a meeting of his loyalist ministers and MLAs in his house, Yeddyurappa reportedly called up the high command representatives and told them he was ready to step down if the former state BJP president Mr Sadananda Gouda is made the chief minister.

Yeddyurappa changed his stand after the Yeddyurappa strictly warned him and his loyalists that every one would have to fall in line with the instructions of the high command or else they would face sacking from the party.

It is also reliably learnt that most of the ministers and MLAs refused to toe the line of Yeddyurappa as the BJP top brass warned them of serious consequences if they support the corrupt chief minister.