Giving into the demand of the camps led by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his successor D V Sadananda Gowda, the party central leadership let Shettar retain all the 21 ministers in the outgoing cabinet.
In a balancing act, party state unit chief K S Eshwarappa, belonging to third largest community of Kurubas, and R Ashok from the second dominant Vokkaliga caste, were made deputy chief ministers, a first ever in the state's history.
In the third leadership change in four years of BJP rule torn by persisting intra-party feud, Shettar was admistered the oath of office by Governor H R Bhardwaj.
Apparently aware of the need to refurbish the party's image which had taken a beating with a spate of corruption charges against several leaders and never-ending infighting, Shettar said he would strive to provide an honest and good governance.
"We will try to give an honest, transparent and corruption-free government," he told reporters after presiding over the first meeting of his new Cabinet. MORE