BJP to declare Shettar CM by July 10

The BJP central leadership, working hard to resolve the Karnataka political imbroglio, is likely to make a formal announcement by July 10 about making Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar the new chief minister.

Party leaders have started an exercise to convince senior leader L K Advani, who is strongly backing Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, for the need for change of guard. Party president Nitin Gadkari held a discussion with Advani on Thursday night on the party’s proposal to replace Gowda.

Sources said Gadkari tried convincing him about the need for change of leadership in Karnataka.

Gadkari is learnt to have explained that though Gowda gave a clean administration in the State. Yet in view of the next Assembly polls, a Lingayat lea­der be made chief minister as th­at community has been strongly backing the party.

Advani is not very keen on choosing a third chief minister in the current Assembly and feels the party should go for fresh elections under Gowda. As a follow up to Gadkari’s discussions, party leaders Ananth Kumar and Sushma Swaraj will meet Advani soon to convince him for the change of guard.

The central leaders under Gadkari have advised State leaders to remain low as they work out a formula on giving a honourable exit to Gowda and other changes to ensure a caste balance in the ministry and the party.

As there is still no clarity on whether a deputy chief minister would be appointed to placate warring factions, the party may summon all three–Gowda, Shettar and party state unit president K S Eshwarappa–to the national capital if required.

The decision will have to be ratified by the BJP parliamentary board but most members are in agreement on the issue in view of the damage caused by constant threats from dissidents in the recent past.