Senior BJP leader R Ashok appointed as Leader of Opposition

Team Udayavani, Nov 17, 2023, 8:18 PM IST

In a significant development at the Legislative Assembly meeting held at the ITC Gardenia Hotel in the city on Friday evening, senior BJP MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok secured the position of Leader of the Opposition.

Marking a strategic move, the position of the state president has been allocated to the Lingayat community, while the pivotal position of the Leader of the Opposition has been bestowed upon the influential Vokkkaliga community.

A seasoned political figure at the age of 66, R. Ashok brings with him a rich background affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

His illustrious political career includes serving as the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2018. Ashok has also held key portfolios such as Deputy Chief Minister, Revenue, Home, and Transport Minister. Furthermore, he contributed as the Health and Family Welfare Minister during the BJP-JDS coalition government.

Ashok’s political journey has seen him elected as a legislator from the Padmanabhanagar assembly constituency a remarkable seven times, with three terms under the Uttarahalli constituency before redistricting. This appointment underscores Ashok’s extensive experience and leadership within the BJP ranks.