Vajpayee had resigned just 13 days after being in power due to lack of numbers.
Upping the ante, Bharatiya Janata Party strongman B S Yeddyurappa on Monday fielded a rebel candidate for the March 30 Rajya Sabha poll from Karnataka, as the stand-off with the party's central leadership over his reinstatement as chief minister intensified.
Congress' Sowmya Reddy secured 54,457 votes against her nearest rival from the BJP.
Suresh Kumar said he was withdrawing his nomination following a direction from the BJP leadership.
However, it fell nine seats short of a majority.
Yediyurappa said he would decide on members to be inducted into the ministry after consulting party president Amit Shah.
2 office bearers each from Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa camps have been relieved.
According to some accounts, internal Congress surveys indicated a tough battle for the chief minister in Chamundeshwari.
The new CM said the coalition government will work for the people and was not here to fulfil personal interests.
He accused the BJP of creating friction between communities and 'igniting' fire and ramped up his attack on the PM.
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