The chief minister of a key central Indian state has sought to resign after a court ordered her arrest in connection with a 10-year-old rioting case, the head of her Hindu nationalist party said on Sunday.
Uma Bharti's decision to quit as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh came less than 10 months after she led her Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to victory in state elections.
State BJP leaders said 24 of 35 ministers in her government had also submitted their resignations to express their solidarity with Bharti, a Hindu holy woman who wears saffron robes and is known for her fiery speeches.