Gowda quits,Shettar set to take oath on July 11

K'taka BJP yet to decide on deputy CMs,Gowda offered posts at state,national level by party.

Sadananda Gowda today submitted his resignation as Karnataka Chief Minister to BJP president Nitin Gadkari,paving the way for rival Jagadish Shettar to take over as the third CM in four years of the partys rule in the state. Shettar is likely to take oath on July 11.

Shettar has the blessings of BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa. Incidentally,it was on the strength of Yeddyurappas support that Gowda had defeated Shettar in a secret ballot last year to become the CM.

While the pressure mounted by Yeddyurappa to effect the change is an open secret,BJP president Nitin Gadkari insisted Gowda had resigned of his own will in the larger interest of the party given the Assembly elections early next year. Gadkari also described the development as an outcome of the current political situation. Gowda had met the BJP chief in the morning.

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Announcing Shettar as the BJP choice for new CM,Gadkari added: In Gowdas tenure,the performance of our government was very good… There were no complaints against him on grounds of corruption,but keeping the larger interest of the party in mind,as a good party worker,he has resigned.

Gadkari added that the party could use Gowdas services at the state or national level. Sources said he had been offered position of chairman of the state legislative council or a Rajya Sabha membership. He could even be made the BJP state unit chief as a last resort.

While the BJP is learnt to have kept open the option of appointing two deputy chief ministers,to strike a balance between different factions within the state,Gadkari said no decision has been taken in this regard and that the party would take a call after the legislature party meeting to formally choose Shettar as CM tomorrow.

Senior party leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley will be going to Bangalore to attend the meeting as observers.

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