He is the only contestant for the post and his election is expected to be formally declared tomorrow. With numbers not in its favour, the Congress chose not to field a candidate nor was there any understanding with the JD(S) to have a common nominee.

BJP has 110 members in the 224-member House with six independents supporting the government. The opposition has a total strength of 108 — 80 of the Congress and 28 of the JD(S).

"I am sure Shettar would discharge his responsibility and it's the fortune of the state he has become the Speaker given his vast experience," Yeddyurappa told reporters, adding, he expected cooperation from the Opposition. He said he met JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and his son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who expressed their willingness to cooperate with the government.

Shettar was initially reluctant to take up the Speaker's post saying it would curtail his activities in interacting with the people and carry out public service. However, after the intervention of BJP's central leadership, he accepted it.

"The Speaker's post has its own importance in the Constitution. I agreed to become Speaker on my own," he told reporters after filing the nomination.

A three-day session of the newly-constituted Karnataka Assembly began here today with pro-term speaker K G Bopaiah administering the oath to the members. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was the first to take oath followed by Leader of the Opposition M Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress. Members took the oath individually.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur is slated to address the joint session of the legislature on Friday after which the Yeddyurappa ministry would seek the trust vote. The ruling BJP has a strength of 110 members in the 224-member assembly and six independents were supporting the government.

The opposition comprises 80 members of the Congress and 28 of the JD(S).