Ending his 11-month tenure, D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister, paving the way for Jagadish Shettar to take over, but not before dramatic scenes with his supporters trying to physically prevent him from stepping down.
Accompanied by some ministers, Mr. Gowda met Governor H.R. Bhardwaj at the Raj Bhavan and submitted his resignation. He informed him about the election of Mr. Shettar as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party at its meeting in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Earlier as he set out from his residence “Anugraha”, his supporters, raising slogans, made a forceful bid to prevent him from submitting his resignation.
They demanded that he continue in office. Some of them also squatted on the road to block his car. Police used force to evict them. Mr. Gowda sought to pacify them and later left the residence but said he would tender his resignation.
Mr. Gowda’s supporters had also gathered outside Raj Bhavan, but the police intervened to clear the way for him.
Mr. Shettar also met the Governor and staked claim to form the Government. He is scheduled to be sworn in as Chief Minister on Thursday.
