Karnataka Assembly session begins sans Leader of Opposition as BJP remains indecisive

BJP’s central leadership has selected Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya, and party General Secretary Vinod Tawde as the two observers for the election of the LoP in the Karnataka.

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Observers to seek opinion

The central observers will gather the opinion of BJP legislators and submit a report to the party high command, Yediyurappa told reporters in Delhi late on Sunday night after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.

He said that based on the opinion gathered by the observers, the party will decide the Legislature party leader, who will be the Leader of the Opposition.

“This is what was discussed in the meeting. They said that they will be sending observers, who will gather opinions and let the party high command know. Afterwards, they will discuss with me,” Yediyurappa, a BJP Parliamentary Board member, said.

When reminded that the session was starting from Monday, Yediyurappa said that he was only communicating whatever happened in the meeting.

“The party’s decision will be final. They are sending observers on Monday. Based on the opinion gathered by the observers, the decision will be taken,” he reiterated.

“The two central observers will arrive at BJP’s head office in Bengaluru on Monday and will hold a meeting with all the MLAs in the evening. Depending on all of their opinions, the Leader of the Opposition will be elected and announced. It will take a couple of days to make the decision,” Mahesh G, BJP Spokesperson, told South First.

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Other names in play

“It is also in the public domain that Member of Karnataka Legislative Council Shashil G Namoshi has expressed his interest to become the leader of the Legislative Council. The central leadership, after taking the opinions of the state BJP leaders into consideration, will take a call on that,” Mahesh added.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is also one of the contenders as the BJP deliberates whether it should stick to the old guard or put faith in a new leader, while also balancing the caste equations in the state.

Regarding the appointment of a new BJP state president, Yediyurappa said that it will be done based on the opinion of the party legislators.

Meanwhile, party sources said there will be a meeting of the party MLAs on Monday afternoon, soon after Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s address to the members of both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature. BJP could take two more days before electing its legislature party leader.

In the Assembly elections held in May 2023, the Congress swept to power with 135, seats while the BJP won 66, and the JD(S) won 19.

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Siddaramaiah reacts, calls BJP ‘indisciplined’

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Monday, commented on the fact that the BJP is yet to elect the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and said that it shows that there is groupism within the party. He additionally dubbed it the “most indisciplined” political party.

“It clearly shows that there is groupism among them,” he told reporters in response to a question. “The BJP calls itself a disciplined party but it’s the most indisciplined party,” Siddaramaiah alleged.

(With PTI inputs)