Bangalore, July 10 (IBNS): Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa aide and present Rural and Panchayati Raj Minister of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar was formally elected as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislature Party leader in Karnataka on Tuesday.
Shettar will become the new Chief Minister of the south Indian state and will take oath on Thursday.
BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley attended the meeting where Shettar was elected as the BJP Legislature Party leader.
Former Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda on Sunday resigned as the CM before the central leadership and party president Nitin Gadkari announced the name of Jagdish Shettar as his successor.
Gowda is likely to submit his resignation to the Karnataka Governor shortly.
Shetter would be the third chief minister of BJP in the four year rule of the party in Karnataka, which is riven by infighting, political chicanery and allegations of corruption.
Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa aide and present Rural and Panchayati Raj Minister of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar will be the next chief minister, Gadkari said in New Delhi on Sunday.
"We accepted his resignation," said Gadkari.
"Jagdish Shetter will be the next CM," he said.
Gadkari heaped praise on Gowda for his works in the past 11 months though he could not explain to media why exactly then he was removed then, while repeating that party scenario forced Gowda's resignation.
Speaking to media, the outgoing Chief Minister, Gowda, said: "My central leaders have taken a decision of change of leadership for some political reasons. I will be loyal worker to the party."
He said he will extend all cooperation to the new Chief Minister.
The BJP Saturday held a core group meeting on the issue.
Shettar is a close associate of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa who wanted the removal of Gowda.
In 2011, when B.S. Yeddyurappa had to resign, Shettar emerged as a major contender to the post of Chief Minister but Gowda was finally chosen.
Removal of Gowda signalled the BJP central leadership's bowing to intense pressure from Yeddyurappa, whose supporters, including a number of cabinet ministers and MLAs, had vowed revolt unless their demand was met.
Gowda was sworn in following the somewhat reluctant exit of Yeddyurappa, who had become entangled in an illegal mining scandal.
The turmoil had resurfaced last week after at least eight Karnataka minister filed their resignations and around 50 MLAs were touted to follow suit unless Gowda, who has become increasingly popular among Yeddyurappa supporters, was replaced.
The crisis was averted after senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley intervened to assure the Yeddyurappa loyalists that their grievances will be heard.
