Fierce tussle on, BJP unlikely to name Opposition leader in ongoing Budget session

Shyam Sundar Vattam/NT

Bengaluru: If sources are to be believed, the opposition BJP is unlikely to name a Leader of the Opposition in the current budget session of the Legislative Assembly as the high command does not want to have any more tussles within the party over the post.

A Bengaluru -based BJP MLA told News Trail that the high command has decided to put on hold the selection of the Opposition Leader and the State Party President at least by a few weeks.

Already, lawmakers are witnessing a battle between former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal inside the House on speaking on various subjects.

The high command has reportedly asked Bommai to function as the unofficial Opposition Leader during the ongoing Budget Session which is expected to end on July 21, and thereafter the opposition leader would be selected.

The MLA admitted that one of the reasons for the delay in the appointment of the Opposition Leader is the divide among BJP lawmakers on this issue.

While a section of senior leaders are in favour of Bommai, another section wants to have Yatnal for his attacking nature. The selection of either one will create heartburn among their followers and that would impact the performance of the party inside the House.

So, the high command has reportedly taken the decision not to name anybody as Opposition leader to avoid a confrontation inside the Assembly.

Even other leaders like R. Ashok and Sunil Kumar have also thrown their hats in the ring along with Bommai and Yatnal.

Last week, before the beginning of the Assembly session, former CM and BJP Parliamentary Board Member B.S.Yediyurappa went to New Delhi to finalize the name of the Opposition Leader and the high command had sent two observers to collect the opinions of legislators.

The observers are learnt to have told BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to put off the selection by a few weeks till unanimity is established on the post.

Delhi leaders know quite well that Yatnal if not made Opposition Leader, is likely to voice his grievances in public. In these circumstances, Delhi leaders feel it is better to manage the show without an Opposition leader for now.