Karnataka BJP to call for legislature party meet amidst growing internal dissent over top appointments

The opposition BJP has called for a legislature party on Tuesday, barely a week after newly minted leader of Opposition R Ashoka has held the office. Speculation about internal strife in the party is one the rise, especially after Ashoka’s unilateral decision to walk out of the Assembly, last week, even as his colleagues were planning a dharna in the well. The move has invited criticism that the former revenue minister is amenable to manipulation by the ruling Congress.

The Assembly was in the middle of a discussion about an attack on BJP SC Morcha member Prithvi Singh allegedly by Congress leaders. Ashoka announced a walkout even as Home Minister G Parameshwara announced that an investigation was underway. This derailed the rest of the BJP MLAs, and some even remained inside the House in the ensuing confusion.

BJP MLA SR Vishwanath had openly criticized Ashoka, saying he has had a cosy relationship with the ruling party.


Internal dissent seems to be the theme of the season for the BJP lately, as the new state party president BY Vijayendra has his own opponents as well. BJP leader V Somanna had gathered a coterie of dissatisfied party MLAs last month, including former union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad, and Ramesh Jarkiholi and former MLA Arvind Limbavali. They were supposed to meet the party’s top brass this week to protest what they called an “adjustment” appointment. The meeting is yet to take place.