Bangalore, Jul 11 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) legislative leader Jagadish Shettar Wednesday staked claim to form the ruling party's third government in Karnataka. He will be sworn in as chief minister Thursday.

Shettar called on Governor H.R. Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan with a letter from the ruling party's state unit president K.S. Eshwarappa on being elected the legislative party leader Tuesday to become the BJP's third chief minister in the state.
Shettar drove to Raj Bhavan in the city centre 30 minutes after the incumbent D.V. Sadananda Gowda submitted his resignation from the post and it was accepted by the governor.

"The governor has invited Shettar to take oath as chief minister and form the government at the earliest," Eshwarappa told reporters here later.

The party's central observer Rajnath Singh, general secretary Ananth Kumar and former chief minister B.S. Yedduyurappa accompanied Shettar to Raj Bhavan.

"Shettar will take oath Thursday on the lawns of Raj Bhavan. Efforts are on to swear-in some legislators as cabinet ministers. Names will be discussed and finalised by late Wednesday or early Thursday," Eshwarappa said.

Wild celebrations broke at the official residence of Shettar with hundreds of his supporters, party cadres and leaders greeting his family members and relatives.
Shettar, 56, represents Hubli assembly segment in north Karnataka, about 400 km from Bangalore.