Lok Sabha member D V Sadananda Gowda will be the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. He was elected as leader of the BJP legislature party through secret ballot in Bangaluru on Wednesday. The exact number of votes polled by the rival candidates was not immediately available. 58-year-old Gowda beat Jagadish Shettar in a straight contest after the party central leaders failed to evolve a consensus on the successor issue. After B. S Yeddyurappa's exit, party's central observers Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh had tried to build a consensus on his successor but the rival factions stuck to their guns forcing a showdown. Sadanand Gowda’s name was proposed by Yeddyurappa who had to vacate his seat over Lokayuktha report which indicted him in illegal mining issue. Talking to reporters after his election, Sadanand Gowda thanked party leaders and MLAs for reposing faith in him. He promised to give good and people friendly administration and said he will carry forward the programme of his predecessor. Later Sadanand Gowda met the Governor to seek a date for his swearing in.