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.
"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. (MORE)
