A section of the BJP MLAs in Karnataka have threatened to stay away from the upcoming winter session of the Assembly if the party failed to pick a leader of the Opposition.

With the BJP not able to pick its floor leader nearly six months after the state elections, several MLAs have sought the help of party veteran B.S. Yediyurappa.

A party functionary told The Telegraph on Saturday that there was still no sign of a leader of the legislature party. “No, there is no movement on that front,” said the
leader who didn’t hide his disapproval of the manner in which the party has been dithering on picking its floor leader.

He said many in the party thought the leader would be picked after the Janata Dal Secular joined the NDA about six weeks ago in September. It was even rumoured that the post was left vacant to accommodate JDS leader and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

“Not only our MLAs, even our grassroots workers are upset at this. We all hope
that a leader will be in place before the winter session of the legislature,” said the functionary.

He said the lawmakers are now banking on Yediyurappa’s word to convey the matter to the party’s national leadership and find a solution. “It is quite demoralising to function in the House without a leader.”

The BJP leaders have found a leadership issue in the ruling Congress as a topic to deflect their own problems from public attention.

The Congress high command had settled the leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, both of whom wanted to be chief minister, by convincing the latter to be the deputy days after the thumping win in the May polls. But constant rumblings within the Congress indicate the possibility of a power-share formula to split the term between the two top leaders.

Senior BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa on Saturday called for the resignation of Siddaramaiah over the “difference of opinion” in the ruling party.

Tourism and IT minister Priyank Kharge, son of party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, on Saturday rubbished the allegations and insisted everything was fine in his party.

“Instead of pointing fingers at the Congress, they should figure out how to set their house in order. It’s been more than six months (and) they don’t have a leader of the Opposition either in the Council or in the Assembly. Their state president is clueless. Nobody knows what is happening.”

“Now the Karnataka BJP is being run by the central unit. I don’t think the BJP has any moral right (to talk about the Congress). They are just trying to show the central leadership, that we (the state unit) are alive,” he said, adding there was no factionalism in the Congress.

“There is absolutely no factionalism. As of now all roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. Siddaramaiah is the chief minister, D.K. Shivakumar is the deputy chief minister and PCC president… Whatever decision is to be taken will be taken by the high command at the right time,” Priyank added.