Kota Srinivasa Poojari, Ayanoor Manjunath, Malkapure, who will BJP pick?
Bengaluru: If Congressmen are lobbying hard for ministerial berths, so are BJP members for prestigious posts like those of Opposition leader and deputy leader in the Legislative Council. The post has fallen vacant after incumbent Opposition leader in the Council K.S. Eshwarappa was elected to the Assembly from Shivamogga constituency in the recent Assembly elections. The Budget session is likely to be held next month, and so the BJP has to elect its leader in the Council before it commences. The BJP state leadership has reportedly shortlisted three names for the top post- Senior members Kota Srinivasa Poojari, Ayanoor Manjunath and Raghunath Rao Malkapure. Party MLC Tejaswini Gowda too is in the race.
The party also has to find a deputy leader of opposition in the Upper House since the term of incumbent deputy leader K.B. Shanappa ended on June 17. Along with Shanappa, actress turned politician, Tara Anuradha too has retired. At present the BJP strength in the Council is 18, it will get one more seat through a nomination next month and its total strength will become 19. With frontline members retiring, the chances of second line leaders like Kota Srinivasa Poojari, Ayanoor Manjunath, Tejaswini Gowda and Raghunath Rao Malkapure look bright, said sources.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Kota Srinivasa Poojari said, “if the party asks me to take up the responsibility, I will definitely do it. By this weekend, the party will have to take a decision on the choice of Opposition leader.” “I am confident the party will consider the ability of the leader and social justice too while selecting the Opposition leader and deputy leader,” Mr. Poojari added. Elected thrice from the local bodies constituency to the Council, he could be the natural choice if the party desires to give an opportunity to an OBC MLC. Ayanoor Manjunath too is a favourite for the post because he has the experience of representing the BJP in the Rajya Sabha for two terms.
