In Karnataka, the BJP legislature party meeting has begun. Arrangements have also been made for a secret ballot to meet. The process commenced more than an hour behind schedule as the central leadership appeared to make last-ditch efforts to build consensus on successor to Yeddyurappa, who quit on Sunday four days after the Lokayukta report indicted him on illegal mining.
Yeddyurappa has made it clear his choice is D V Sadananda Gowda, while the rival camp spearheaded by his bitter rival H N Ananth Kumar and state unit president K S Eshwarappa has propped up Jagadish Shettar.
"....if consensus is not there, secret ballot becomes inevitable", Shettar said before the meeting. "Discussion is still on. No decision has been taken (whether to go in for secret ballot)".