In a letter to the Karnataka Chief Minister, Dharam Singh, Narayanamurthy that he was hurt by the coalition partner and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda''s recent remarks about his lack of contribution to BIAL in the last five years. He said these comments had been made despite the time and efforts he had put in to see the project through.

He also said he was even more let down that neither the chief minister nor his colleagues had set the record straight in the face of the allegations.

Murthy''s letter says, "The media reports of October 17, 2005 refer to your coalition partner, Mr. Deve Gowda, speaking to the press about lack of my contribution to the Bangalore International Airport Limited during the last five years. I wish he had asked me personally before going to the press, or talked to you or ascertained it from members of the board. I am disappointed that a former Prime Minister did not accord me this basic courtesy.

"I am pained, more so, that leaders in the Government like you did not even clarify my role in the Company and the work that has been done. I have spent enormous amount of time and energy in interacting with the government in New Delhi and the government here to make this work. The records prove themselves.

"Therefore, I am resigning the Chairmanship of BIAL effective Thursday, October 20, 2005. I thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of the State."

Dharam Singh said he would try to sort out the issue and ask Murthy to continue in the post.

At the heart of the controversy is Infosys'' application for 845 acres of land on the outskirts of Bangalore for its expansion plan. In a letter to Dharam Singh recently, Gowda questioned Murthy''s role in the progress of the airport project at Devanahalli. He also accused IT companies of land grabbing and sought a review of land allotment to infotech companies.