‘Factionalism and larger strategies stop BJP from appointing LoP’

Umar Sharieef | NT

Bengaluru: Amid the continuous question as to why the BJP has not been able to appoint the leader of the opposition in Karnataka, political experts claimed that it is factionalism and the larger strategies that are stopping the party from taking a call despite various other factors.

Senior leaders including CT Ravi and Pratap Simha expressed their dissent over the party’s defeat in the Assembly election held on May 3. “Politics of adjustments” was the reason for the defeat, they had said.

The factionalism and the target against the former Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai intensified on June 25 when the BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal hit out over Bommai’s meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Yatnal said the DKS’ visit to Bommai’s house would send a wrong message to the party workers and BJP leaders should shun any contacts with the rival party.

However, in a befitting reply to Yatnal, who is also an aspirant for the LoP post, Bommai said the meeting was a gesture of hospitality and doesn’t mean a political compromise.

He also added that some leaders have secretly colluded despite not visiting the homes of rival leaders. JD(S) and the larger strategies Political analyst Muzaffar Azadi told News Trail that the delay in appointing the LoP is the larger strategy of the BJP in Karnataka.

He said the BJP is keen on joining hands with the JD(S) and might appoint HD Kumaraswamy as the leader of the opposition.

“Like the Maharashtra model, the BJP in Karnataka is trying to experiment the same with the JD(S), where they bring in the opposition parties together and disseminate. Of this, the BJP is eyeing to get the support of Vokkaligas, the group that supports the JD(S). The BJP has no narrative about how to get the support of Vokkaligas and it is the only way to get it and they would be ready to appoint HDK as the LoP”, Azadi said in what he termed to be the larger strategies of the BJP.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) only has 19 MLAs in the assembly. The party should have 10% seats to be the opposition. Azadi further said HDK can be appointed the LoP despite the hurdles if he merges his party with the BJP.