The BJP core group is meeting in New Delhi today to take a decision on replacing Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda with Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar and finalise the strategy for the Vice-Presidential election.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari has convened the meeting of the party's core group to take a final decision on making Shettar as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The party is also likely to appoint a Deputy Chief Minister to placate other senior party leaders representing different communities of Karnataka.
The names of minister R Ashok and Karnataka BJP chief K S Eshwarappa are doing the rounds for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

The Vice-Presidential election will also be discussed by the core group.
Sources said since the opposition lacks the numbers, the party may decide not to field a candidate and instead support a candidate put up by one of its allies or a non-Congress party.
The issues related to the Presidential poll, including the office of profit issue involving UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee, will also be discussed at the meeting.