100 days without LOP: Cong says BJP doesn’t care about state

Umar Sharieef | NT

Bengaluru: As many as 100 days after finishing as the second-largest party in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is still without a Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in both Houses.

While factionalism and indecision are claimed to be the reason behind it, the Congress government claims it is because the top leadership doesn’t care about the State.

Speaking exclusively with News Trail, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), Priyank Kharge, said the absence of an LOP shows the inability of the BJP to appoint one, adding that is a disregard to the system and the people of Karnataka.

“The central leadership, by not appointing the LOP, shows its complete disregard for the system and the people of Karnataka. It is an insult to the people of the state”, Kharge said.

BJP, the principal Opposition in Karnataka finished with 66 seats in the May 10 Assembly polls. With 135 seats, the Congress party formed the government, comfortably crossing the magic number which is 113.

Absence of state leadership: Priyank

Despite the absence of LoP made headlines during the state’s Budget session and when the top leaders in Delhi summoned BS Yediyurappa to New Delhi to discuss it, the issue remained unsolved.

“It is the first time in the history of Karnataka that the Governor’s speech took place without an LOP. It is evident that despite being in power at the top, the BJP is unable to appoint a leader at the state level. It says they don’t have any faces other than Modi and Amit Shah”, Kharge added.

Several observers also said it shows the BJP has distanced itself from Karnataka after losing the election.

Political Science professor at the Mysore University Muzaffar Assadi claimed that the focus of BJP has moved from Karnataka as the Congress party is emerging as the strong Opposition at the Centre.

Pointing to Basavaraj Bommai being the frontrunner for the post, Assadi said the BJP may not appoint him as he is a “soft Hindu leader” and not a Hindutva leader.

Asked if BS Yediyurappa can emerge as the LOP in the Council, he said that Yediyurappa had retired from electoral politics and that it was unlikely that he would accept a role as an MLC without placing many conditions before the party high command.

Meanwhile, it is expected of the BJP to appoint an LoP ahead of the winter session in December slated to be held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. BJP leaders were unavailable for comment.