K’taka: Lobbying begins within BJP for LoP post in Council

PTI, Jun 20, 2024, 10:47 AM IST

There is intense lobbying within the BJP for the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, with significant competition among candidates from the Vokkaliga, Dalit, and OBC communities.

The competition for this position has emerged between C.T. Ravi, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and N. Ravikumar. R. Ashok, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, is reportedly supporting Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. However, a question arises whether the BJP leadership will agree to give this prominent position to someone who has defected from Congress. Moreover, it would mean favoring the Old Mysore region in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

C.T. Ravi has set his sights on this position and is applying pressure through senior leaders. He will likely receive support from B.L. Santosh, the National General Secretary (Organization).

Additionally, former CM B.S. Yediyurappa has shown some leniency towards C.T. Ravi. This is evident from the fact that C.T. Ravi single-handedly defended Yediyurappa when a POCSO case surfaced against him, indicating a shift in the BJP’s political dynamics.

Appointment During the Monsoon Session?

State BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra is also carefully calculating the situation regarding the Leader of the Opposition position. Based on the prevailing circumstances, he might support either C.T. Ravi or N. Ravikumar. There is a strong possibility that the appointment for the Leader of the Opposition could happen during the monsoon session, with behind-the-scenes efforts intensifying.