Sadananda Gowda declines Rajya Sabha offer, wants to head BJP in Karnataka

BANGALORE: Striking a bargain, D V Sadananda Gowda is said to have declined the offer to become Rajya Sabha member and has expressed that he is happy to remain as MLC if party president's post is not given to him after resigning as chief minister.

During the meeting with Gowda on Sunday at his residence in New Delhi, BJP president Nitin Gadkari is said to have asked the CM to consider the offer to enter Rajya Sabha and there after a respectable position in the party would be given. However, Gowda, who had gone to Delhi with a mission to demand state BJP chief's post, is asked nothing less than the post he demanded. The party has asked Gowda to resign and announced that senior minister Jagadish Shettar would replace him.

The chief minister is said to have explained Gadkari the need to give party chief's post to him as Vokkaliga, who is one of the major communities in Karnataka, are up against BJP for removing him unceremoniously as CM. "Protests are being held across the state by Vokkaligas, so the post should be given to me," he is believed to have told the party high command.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has been instrumental in ousting Gowda, is said to given the high command a formula to make Gowda a RS member after asking sitting member from the state Ayunur Manjunath to resign the membership. Gowda, who is a member of legislative council, should pave way for Manjunath.

Sources close to Gowda said the CM doesn't want both important posts - chief minister and party chief - to be in the control of rival Yeddyurappa camp. To make his presence felt in the party, Gowda's formula is he has the experience of heading and bringing BJP to power in 2008 assembly polls, so he should made chief of state unit, while the incumbent K S Eshwarappa made deputy chief minister.

While no commitment was given to him by the party, Gadkari is believed to have assured Gowda that his followers would get better portfolios in the new government.