Sadananda Gowda to be sworn in as Karnataka CM today

Bangalore, Aug 4 (ANI): DV Sadananda Gowda will be sworn-in as the new Karnataka Chief Minister here today.

The Yeddyurappa backed BJP MLA will be administered oath of office by Governor HR Bhardwaj at 4.30 p.m.

Gowda was elected soon after Bhardwaj gave the go-ahead for Yeddyurappa's prosecution. A secret ballot was called to choose the BJP legislature party leader after the central leaders' efforts to find a consensus candidate failed.

Gowda, expected to serve out the remaining 22 months of the BJP's first government in the south, got 65 votes.

His challenger, rural development minister Jagadish Shettar - propped up by the rival camp led by party general secretary HN Ananth Kumar - fell short by 12 votes.

Fifty-eight year-old Gowda is an MP from Udupi Chikmagalur. He has been BJP state president and a non-controversial one - a considerable feat in a unit that has several power centres.

Gowda has also been an MLA and deputy leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.

He was the State President of the BJP in Karnataka and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 and 2009.

Yeddyurappa resigned from his post on Sunday after being indicted in Lokayukta Justice (retired) N. Santosh Hedge's report on illegal mining. (ANI)