BJP opposition leader election: Key meeting witnesses absence of five MLAs, including Yatnal

Team Udayavani, Nov 17, 2023, 7:51 PM IST

Ahead of the election, a BJP legislative meeting was held regarding the appointment of the leader of the opposition on Friday evening.

Key figures such as BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Dushyant Kumar, former CM Yeddyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, and Kota Srinivas Pujari were present.

However, the crucial legislative meeting witnessed the absence of five BJP MLAs, adding a layer of complexity to the proceedings. Notably, senior BJP leader Basana Gowda Patil Yatnal and MLA Ramesh Jarakiholi left the meeting before its commencement. Additionally, MLA S.T. Somashekhar reportedly departed for Delhi, while Balachandra Jarakiholi and Shivaram Hebbar were also notably absent.

Yatnal, who had initially arrived for the meeting, made a public statement before its commencement, expressing his dissatisfaction. He remarked, “This is not a place where poor people drink tea” and left with Ramesh Jarakiholi.

Posting on social media, Yatnal further emphasized his stance, quoting, “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.,” right after boycotting the meeting.

The discontent within the party preceding the leadership election adds an intriguing dimension to the political landscape.