Bengaluru: A section of BJP legislators in Karnataka has threatened to stay away from the upcoming winter session of the state assembly if a Leader of Opposition (LoP) is not nominated by then.
The BJP, which lost power to the Congress-led coalition in the May assembly elections, has been grappling with internal rifts and factionalism. Moreover, ever since the 13 May defeat, the party has not appointed an LoP, the absence of which has weakened its ability to take on the ruling Congress on various issues.
Some BJP MLAs conveyed their frustration to B.S. Yediyurappa, former chief minister and one of the most influential leaders of the party in the state, at a meeting of Bengaluru city MLAs and workers Tuesday, people aware of the development told ThePrint. The winter session is due in December.
According to two BJP members, it was K. Gopalaiah, the MLA from Mahalakshmi Layout in Bengaluru, who raised the issue at the meeting.
“When the meeting was over, and everybody was ready to leave, some legislators said that they felt like it was better to not attend the session than have to answer uncomfortable questions from the media and the opposition,” said a four-time MLA from Bengaluru, requesting anonymity.
However, the MLA clarified that Gopalaiah meant to say that some MLAs felt like it was easier to avoid public meetings than having to face questions on delays in appointment of LoP.
Several names have been doing the rounds for the LoP post, such as ex-CM Basavaraj Bommai, former minister of state Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, ex-minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan and former deputy CM R. Ashoka, but no decision has been taken yet by the central leadership, according to party leaders.
They added that the central leadership is currently busy with elections in five other states and has not been able to focus on appointing an LoP in Karnataka.
Meanwhile, Yediyurappa, who does not hold any official post in the party currently, held a press conference Thursday in Bengaluru to accuse the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of corruption and incompetence. He was also asked about the LoP issue by reporters.
“There has been a considerable delay in the appointment of an LoP. I have asked (the central leadership) that it be done at the earliest. (I) will do everything possible to get it done before the winter session,” said Yediyurappa.
At least two senior state leaders also confirmed that most of the discussions or deliberations, if any, were being done only at the central level and the state unit was not consulted.
“Even though there are several leaders who go and meet the central leadership in Delhi, there are not too many who are aware of what is actually happening. But we cannot share this publicly,” said another MLA, requesting anonymity.
ThePrint reached Gopalaiah and BJP’s Karnataka spokesperson Capt (Retd) Ganesh Karnik over phone. This report will be updated if and when their responses are received.
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‘Not a dissent’
Speaking to ThePrint, another legislator, requesting anonymity, said that “all of the legislators feel that the LoP must be appointed quickly”, but added that, even though MLAs were unhappy with the delay, “they will attend the session”.
Echoing him, another BJP leader, S.R. Vishwanath, MLA from Yelahanka in Bengaluru, told a news channel Thursday: “(It’s) not a dissent, but before the start of the winter session the LoP must be in place. If not, we will not be able to corner the government. It is good to have a LoP.”
Meanwhile, Arvind Bellad, the BJP legislator from Dharwad West, told ThePrint: “Both these positions are due (LoP and change in state president). It will take time but will happen when they (high command) decide. Everyone may have expressed that a LoP should be appointed soon but everyone will attend the session.”
Notably, the BJP went through the entire budget session in July without an LoP, hampering their efforts to build momentum and corner the Congress government over issues like corruption, the Cauvery water row and drought.
BJP-JD(S) alliance adds to woes
This is not the first time state leaders have complained of being sidelined by the central leadership.
Earlier, some leaders like D.V. Sadananda Gowda and S.T. Somashekar had opposed the alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Gowda had told ThePrint that no state leader was consulted before the alliance.
The alliance with JD(S), which was announced in September, spurred the Congress to mock the BJP, saying that JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy was acting as the “de facto” LoP.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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