BJP meet underway, announcement likely on new Karanataka CM

NEW DELHI: Beleaguered Karnataka chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda is meeting BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on the vexed leadership issue gripping the state.

Also present at the meeting is senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

Underlining its desire to stick with the Lingayats , a politically dominant community that propelled BJP to power in the southern state, the party has decided to replace chief minister Sadananda Gowda with Jagdish Shettar.

The BJP decision to effect a second change of guard in Karnataka in 11 months will see Gowda, a Vokkaligga, make way for Shettar, who is a nominee of the Lingayat strongman and former CM B S Yeddyurappa.

Shettar is also a Lingayat. Gowda agreed to step down after the central party leadership worked out a "respectable" alternative for him, with BJP circles feeling he can either be the party unit chief in the state with a Rajya Sabha seat or take charge as legislative council chairman.

The announcement regarding a new chief minister is likely to be made today.