Bengaluru: Two months have elapsed post the Assembly election results, yet the leader of the Opposition in Karnataka is yet to be elected. The BJP, which has won 66 seats, is delaying the selection of the leader of the Opposition and is likely to elect JD (S) Leader and Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy as the leader of the Opposition. The BJP-JD (S) alliance is expected in the State.
A meeting of regional parties led by the Congress is being held in Bengaluru on July 16 and 17 to prepare for next year’s Lok Sabha elections. In return, there is a meeting of BJP-led NDA leaders in Delhi on July 18 to bring together the anti-Congress regional parties. The JD (S) is likely to participate from Karnataka. After the meeting, the leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly is likely to be elected.
It is learnt that Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai himself has given a hint in this regard and has spoken formally to the media. The BJP High Command has decided to elect the leader of the Opposition only after July 18. If the JD (S) attends the NDA meeting in Delhi on July 18 and formally forges an alliance with the BJP, Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy will be the leader of the Opposition, sources said.
It is learnt that the BJP High Command has adopted such a move in order to create an open fight in the BJP.
Not just Basavaraj Bommai’s informal talks, Congress MLA and Former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi also said that H. D. Kumaraswamy will be the leader of the Opposition. The statement of Laxman Savadi, who jumped over to the Congress from the BJP after not getting a ticket in the last election, has also gained importance. Meanwhile, a few days ago, Former Minister Murugesh Nirani had also hinted at the BJP’s surprise move by saying that a special person would come as the leader of the opposition. Nirani had also said that whoever is the leader of the Opposition will be welcomed.
HDK is louder than BJP leaders!
Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy has been attacking the Congress more than the BJP leaders in the Assembly session. HDK has been lashing out at the Government inside and outside the House, raising several issues, including the transfer racket. He has also been helping BJP leaders in the House on several occasions and has succeeded in silencing Congress leaders. Congress leaders have repeatedly said that H. D. Kumaraswamy should be made the leader of the Opposition in the House. To that extent, JD (S) leader HDK is fighting against the Congress. Whenever he gets an opportunity, he stands by the BJP.
Yediyurappa had also supported HDK!
BJP’s mass leader and Former CM B. S. Yediyurappa had backed Kumaraswamy when he levelled allegations against the Congress. “We fully support for the allegations made by H. D. Kumaraswamy. Later, he said, “We will fight together.” With this, he hinted at an alliance between the BJP and the JD (S). In 2006, H. D. Kumaraswamy and B. S. Yediyurappa had formed an alliance. HDK was Chief Minister and BSY was the Deputy Chief Minister then. The alliance had broken over power-sharing issues. Now, there is a possibility of a BJP-JD (S) alliance in Karnataka again.