BSY loyalist Gowda is new Karnataka CM

Bangalore, Aug 3 (IBNS) B S Yeddyurappa finally had his say over the choice of his successor as his loyalist DV Sadananda Gowda has been chosen as the new chief minister of Karnataka by the BJP legislators in a secret ballot.

Yeddyurappa camp broke out in celebrations after the name of Gowda was announced.

Reports said the illegal mining tainted Reddy brothers, who are ministers in the government, might be dropped in the new cabinet.

"I thank the entire legislature for reposing confidence in me and electing me as the new leader of the legislators," he said after his election.

"I would try to give good governance and a people-friendly pro-development government," said Gowda.

He thanked the central leaders of the BJP while party leader Rajnath Singh said he hoped the new chief minister will provide good governance and restore stability in the state.

Gowda got about 68 votes while Jagadish Shettar, the other contender, also got over 50.

A total of 118 MLAs voted out of the of 121 members. The BJP legislature party meeting was held earlier.

Gowda had the backing of also the RSS, the ideological patron of the BJP.

On a day Yeddyurappa said he would return to prominence in just six months, the former CM had taken all his MLAs to a resort earlier to avoid their defecting to other camps.

BJP leaders D V Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar were the two of the top contenders to become the next chief minister of Karnataka by secret voting.

Shettar was backed by state BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa and party general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, who is also an MP from Bangalore South.

Gowda, 58, an MP from Udupi Chikmagalur constituency in Karnataka, as expected took an upper upper hand as his handpicked candidate was chosen.

On Sunday last, after high drama that peaked with a walk with supporters to the Raj Bhavan in the rain, B S Yeddyurappa resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka after ruling the state for three years and two months.

After keeping the top BJP leadership on the tenterhooks, Yeddyurappa, who was indicted by the Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hedge in the Rs 16,000 crore illegal mining scam report, finally submitted his resignation to Governor H R Bhardwaj.

Governor has already sanction the prosecution of Yeddyurappa.