Karnataka: Gowda promises cooperation to Shettar

New Delhi: Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Saturday said he would extend all cooperation to his "good friend" and likely successor Jagadish Shettar.

Seemingly relaxed, he said he had strived hard to give a corruption-free administration in the state where he was the second Chief Minister in the four-year-old BJP government.

"Shettar is very good friend of mine. He is more senior and more experienced," said 59-year-old Gowda about his successor in the first ever BJP government in South India.

Sadananda Gowda said he had strived hard to give a corruption-free administration in Karnataka.

"I will always give him full cooperation to him and if I want to give any suggestion for the betterment (of administration), I will personally visit him and give my suggestions," he said about Shettar.

Yeddyurappa, who was removed unceremoniously last year after being indicted by the Lokayukta in corruption cases against him, has been demanding removal of Gowda and replacing him with the former chief minister's close associate Shettar.

Calling for unity in the party, Gowda said "my intention is that we all should remain united and ensure the party's victory in next assembly polls....Ultimately, the party is important, organisation is important."

Asked whether he would become the President of the party's state unit, he said "I have no ambitions. I will not demand any position. I would like to remain as an ordinary worker. The party gave me everything. The party gave me Chief Minister's post which I did not demand."

"With the cooperation from all, I strived hard to deliver good administration-- without any scope for corruption," the outgoing Chief Minister said.

Gowda also dismissed the allegations levelled against him by Yeddyurappa camp that he, as Chief Minister, was playing to the tunes of JD-S leader Deve Gowda.

"I will quit politics and take 'sanyas', if anybody proves the allegations," he said.

Earlier, while arriving in the national capital, Gowda told reporters that he was ready to step down if BJP central leadership asks him to do so.

"I have said whatever decision the central leadership takes, I am prepared to accept. That means if they ask me to quit the post, I am prepared. If they ask me to continue, I will continue," he said.

Gowda said he had come to Delhi to convey his feelings to the central leadership on the crisis in the state. "... The decision should not be delayed. Immediately they should take decision as 123 talukas are under severe drought and people should not feel that political disturbance in the state is affecting the functioning of the government," he said.

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