Admidst the spectre of a severe drought in the state, the ruling BJP in Karnataka installed its third chief minister in four years with hardcore RSS man Jagadish Shettar being sworn-in at Raj Bhavan here on Thursday.

Shettar took charge with a 33-member cabinet including two deputy chief ministers — K S Eshwarappa and R Ashoka. Shettar replaces D V Sadananda Gowda, who stepped down after a 11-month following dissidence led by his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa. Karnataka legislative assembly elections are due in May 2013.

Governor H R Bhardwaj administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shettar even as roads leading to Raj Bhavan were cordoned off with thousands of BJP workers descending in Bangalore from the new CM's hometown Hubli and other parts of north Karnataka in all modes of transport. The 57 year-old Shettar is Karnataka's 21st CM.

Shettar has retained all the ministers from Gowda's cabinet and added 11 new faces