Gowda seems reconciled to losing Karnataka CM's chair

The Bharatiya Janata Party's second chief minister in four years in Karnataka, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Wednesday appeared reconciled to giving up his chair, less than a year after succeeding scam-scarred B.S. Yeddyurappa.

"There is nothing like sweet news or bitter news in my life. It may be for others... I have the satisfaction of providing a clean administration for 11 months," Gowda told reporters here, a day after he and Yeddyurappa loyalists met BJP's central leaders in New Delhi.

Yeddyurappa loyalists want Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar to be the chief minister. Shettar and eight other ministers had submitted their resignations to Gowda Friday to pressure the party leadership to accept their demand.

Gowda, who took over August last year, after Yeddyurappa was forced to quit July 31 over graft charges, accused his party's leadership for not acting earlier to stem the rebellion against him.

"May be our leaders could have acted earlier to sort out the problems," he said.

"I, Shettar and Eshwarappa have told party's central leaders that we would abide by their decision. They said they would take a decision in four or five days", Gowda said.

The BJP came to power for the first time in Karnataka in May 2008. Although assembly elections are due in the state next May, they might take place by Dec this year along with Gujarat.