Bangalore, July 8 (IANS) Karnataka Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar, who will be the new chief minister, Sunday declined to comment on his imminent elevation, replacing D. V. Sadananda Gowda.

"I will speak only after taking oath," he told reporters after a brief meeting with Gowda soon after the chief minister returned from New Delhi after submitting his resignation to Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari.

Shettar drove to the chief minister's official residence "Anugraha" in the city centre for a brief interaction with Gowda who has pledged his full cooperation "to my good friend Shettar".

The party's legislature wing is likely to meet Tuesday, contrary to earlier indications that it will do so Monday, to formally elect Shettar as its leader in place of Gowda.

BJP senior leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh would be here Monday evening to ensure the leadership change would be a smooth affair.

There is no word yet from Gowda when he would submit the resignation to Governor H. R. Bhardwaj, Monday itself or Tuesday after formal election of Shettar as leader of the legislature party.