The Karnataka BJP legislature party today elected its party MP Mr. Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda, 58, as its new legislature party leader in place of the tainted chief minister Mr BS Yeddyurappa who had resigned three days ago.

Mr Sadananda Gowda was elected leader in a secret voting as the rival factions propped up candidates eluding consensus on the election of successor to Yeddyurappa.

While Sadananda Gowda was the candidate campaigned by the Yeddyurappa camp, the rival faction led by the state unit president K. S. Eshwarappa and national general secretary H. N. Ananth Kumar has campaigned for Jagadish Shettar.

BJP central leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley attend the meeting as party observers. Reports said that Gowda got six votes more that the votes polled by Shettar.