The Karnataka BJP’s await greater than six months to choose the chief of the opposition to the legislative meeting lastly ended when the get together’s central management gave the inexperienced sign to appoint Vokkaliga strongman and former deputy chief minister Ramaiah Ashoka to the publish.
The seven-time legislator was a strategic selection. After appointing BY Vijayendra, belonging to the influential Lingayat group, because the state get together president, Ashoka, a trusted warhorse of the get together, is taken into account to wield vital affect amongst his Vokkaliga clan.
Speaking to the media after his unanimous election, Ashoka known as himself and Vijayendra two leaders who’ve labored “like bulls” for the get together.
“Both of us (Vijayendra) have grown from within the party and have been without any controversy. Our growth is based purely on our hard work. We will travel jointly across the state and bring back the BJP to power in the state. Our goal is set to win 28 out of 28 seats in next year’s Lok Sabha elections,” he instructed the media.
Senior BJP leaders Nirmala Sitharaman and Dushyant Kumar had been despatched to attend the legislature get together assembly as central observers to finalise the title after consulting with the state leaders. This resolution comes within the background of reviews of dissent inside the get together.
Ashoka can also be thought-about to be the choose of senior BJP chief and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa. “There is no dissent in the party,” BSY instructed the media quickly after the announcement was made.
Having represented two main seats in Bengaluru—Padmanabhanagar and Uttarahalli—Ashoka was additionally chosen to contest in opposition to Congress Vokkaliga strongman and current deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar within the Kanakapura meeting seat within the May 2023 state polls.
There have been two different probables within the race for the chief of opposition publish other than Ashoka: Dr CN Ashwath Narayan (Vokkaliga) and V Sunil Kumar (OBC). Ashoka edged his manner to the publish after former CM Basavaraj Bommai recommended his title for the publish and was seconded by former minister Sunil Kumar.
Having labored his manner up the ranks as a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Ashoka has held a number of key ministerial portfolios corresponding to deputy CM, income, dwelling, and transport.
The delayed resolution to appoint the LoP had begun to have an effect on the morale of the get together leaders, together with MLAs who had approached BSY, saying they have been “too embarrassed to even attend the winter session”. which is to be held on December 4 in Belgavi.
The BJP was going through sharp criticism from the ruling Congress over the delay, months after the saffron get together misplaced the meeting elections, netting solely 66 seats.
Another Lingayat chief from the north Karnataka area, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, had additionally claimed to be within the race however walked out of the assembly, sustaining he was stepping out for tea, solely not to return. His candidature is alleged to have been opposed by Yediyurappa and his supporters, in accordance to get together insiders.
Yatnal criticised the get together for what he perceived as neglect of the northern Karnataka area as appointments to key positions have been from south Karnataka.
Yatnal has been vying for the positions of chief of opposition (LoP) and state president however has confronted robust opposition from Yediyurappa. Yatnal in flip had expressed his pronounced dissent after BY Vijayendra was appointed because the state president final week.
“Why should only those from southern Karnataka be given the chance? How many seats do we (BJP) secure from here (southern Karnataka) apart from the Mangaluru region? How many seats do we get from Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Kolar, or Chikkaballapura? We seek regional balance. One (state president) from one side and the other (LoP) from the other side…If everyone is from here, should we stand before them and keep begging behind them,” Yatnal instructed reporters.
“‘Na Dainyam, Na Palayanam’: A warrior cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge, and challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges,” the chief wrote on social media website X.
ನ ದೈನ್ಯಂ, ನ ಪಲಾಯನಂ 🙏A warrior can not complain or remorse something. His life is an countless problem, and challenges can not probably be good or unhealthy. Challenges are merely challenges.
— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) November 17, 2023
“There is pain for north Karnataka, and we know we won’t receive any value for our sentiments. But with the view of ensuring a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have decided to accept the decision on LoP,” stated Arvind Bellad, a four-time legislator from Hubballi-Dharwad and one other chief from the north Karnataka area.
The BJP is attempting to strike a stability between the Vokkaliga and Lingayat vote banks to cease them from splintering, an impact the get together feared after asserting its pre-poll alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular).
