Leadership Shuffle: Will R. Ashoka Rise as the New Opposition Leader?

Bengaluru: Following the appointment of the president to the Karnataka state BJP unit, the central team, who are in Bengaluru, visited former CM BS Yediyurappa’s house in Dollars Colony on Friday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Dushyant Gautam met BS Yediyurappa at his residence.

They held a meeting with the veteran leader, and it is said that former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka is likely to be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. The decision is expected to be announced by this evening.

Several leaders are in the race to become Leader of the Opposition, but it is ultimately decided by the party high command. After much dillydallying, the party high command appointed former CM Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra as the BJP chief just a few days ago.

It is said that R Ashoka enjoys the support of former CMs BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai. Ashoka is from dominant Vokkaliga community, and once close follower of the late HN Ananthakumar.