Despite leading BJP to defeat, Bommai frontrunner for Oppn Leader post

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is likely to be the choice of the BJP for the post of Leader of Opposition in the new Legislative Assembly. Highly placed sources told News Trail on Sunday that though there are senior leaders like former minister S. Sureshkumar, R. Ashok, Dr C.N.

Ashwath Narayana and Basangouda Patil Yatnal who coud be considered, the high command favours Bommai as there is a precedent of appointing the CM of the outgoing government as Opposition Leader. When the Congress lost in 2018, then CM Siddaramaiah was elected Opposition Leader.

Sources also said that while Suresh Kumar is not ready to accept the post, Ashok and Ashwath Narayana are not considered experienced enough. Yatnal on the other hand is temperamental and has not handled any portfolio for many years. So the mantle may fall on the former CM.

Bommai was CM for more than one and a half years but it will be an acid test for him to prove his mettle as his performance as CM was reportedly not up to the mark due to which the party suffered a drubbing in the election.

The Deputy leader of Opposition post may go to Ashok or Dr Ashwath Narayana. The BJP high command is likely to insist on giving the Opposition leader post to a Lingayat so that the community does not feel neglected.