The decision on change of leadership in Karnataka is likely to be announced tomorrow. BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that party chief Nitin Gadkari will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday. State Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda will have a meeting with him and the decision will announced only after that.

Gowda, who is in New Delhi, already met L. K. Advani and others. Jaitley said the political siruation was discussed.

Earlier, BJP Core committee meeting was held in New Delhi today to discuss the change of leadership in Karnataka. PTI quoting sources in the party says the committee has decided to replace Sadananda Gowda with Jagdish Shettar as Chief Minister of Karnataka. No official announcement was made after the meeting. BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said that the decision will be announced after Gowda meets party leaders.

Earlier, Sadananda Gowda said he is prepared to accept whatever decision is taken by BJP central leadership. He said the decision should not be delayed as 123 taluks in the state are under severe drought and people should not feel that political disturbance in the state is affecting the functioning of the government. This marks the third change if leadership in the state in 11 months.

Meanwhile, congress today said that only fresh poll can solve the problem of Karnataka and not a change of guard. AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad told reporters in New Delhi that there is a continuous governance paralysis in the BJP ruled state. He said 129 talukas are suffering from severe drought and the state government has not taken any action to ameliorate the lot of the common people. Hariprasad said the government has also failed on the law and order front in Bangalore and other parts of the state.