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BJP General Secretary N. Ravikumar said on Tuesday evening following central observers from the BJP, that the party’s selection for the post of Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and Head of State Unit of the party will be announced as soon as possible. Vinod Tawde – Returned to New Delhi after discussions with BJP MLAs and leaders in the state.
The central observers “collected the views of key officials and returned. They will hold discussions with the BJP National Chairman and others (senior leaders) and decide on the candidates for the post of BJP State President and Leader of the Opposition,” said Ravikumar, of the MLC in Karnataka.
The BJP did not name an opposition leader in the assembly until two months after the May 10 elections. The severe rift in the unity of the state is seen as the reason for the delay.
The assembly’s budget session began on Monday. On Tuesday, party MLAs disrupted proceedings in the House of Representatives by protesting the ruling Congress’ alleged failure to implement the five pre-election safeguards. In the absence of the opposition leader, Speaker Uta Khadr and the government negotiated with a team of BJP leaders to end the protests. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai and former State Ministers R Ashok, Sunil Kumar, Suresh Kumar and Basanagouda Yatnal – all seen as aspiring to become Leader of the Opposition – took part in the discussions held by the Speaker to resolve the issue.
While Bommai, who is seen as the endorsement of former CM BS Yediyurappa, is considered the favourite, there is a lack of numerical support for him in the ranks of the party’s MLAs, sources said.
Reportedly, the BJP central leadership is keen to bring the leaders in line with the party’s ideology and central leadership in both positions, he said factions led by Yediyurappa and BJP Secretary (Organization) BL Santhosh are seeking roles for their own camps.
Arvind Pelad, a Dharwad MLA who is seen to be loyal to Santosh, reportedly called on the MLAs and asked for their support to assume the role of Leader of the Opposition. He was introduced earlier as a CM candidate after Yediyurappa stepped down in 2021 to make way for Bommai.
Sources said Mandaviya and Tawde summoned MLAs and leaders to the party office until Tuesday and held one-on-one discussions to ascertain their opinion. The current BJP chief, Nalin Kumar Katil, who has had a one-year extension extended to August, is seen as belonging to the Santhosh camp.
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