The Hindu : Karnataka News : Strong Opposition awaits coalition Govt.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Strong Opposition awaits coalition Govt.

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 8. The twelfth Legislative Assembly, which will commence its sittings on Wednesday, will be notable for its formidable Opposition.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the single largest party in the 224-member House with 79 members together with its ally, the Janata Dal (United) with five members, will have 84 members on its side.

This is the first time in the history of the State Assembly that the single largest party will be sitting in the Opposition.

The State had witnessed formidable Opposition groups during 1967-71 (Fourth Assembly) and 1983-85 (Seventh).

In 1967, when S.Nijalingappa was the Chief Minister and the Assembly had 216 members, there were 90 Opposition members belonging mainly to the Swatantra Party and the Praja Socialist Party.

The Bharatiya Jan Sangh had four members.

The Seventh Assembly saw the Janata Party and the Karnataka Kranti Ranga form the Government with the support of Opposition members.

Although the Congress had a large presence in the House, it was in the Opposition.

The BJP was unable to form the Government this time with the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) burying their antipathies, if not their differences, entering into a post-election pact to form the government.

The BJP Legislature Party will meet on Wednesday morning to elect its leader, who will become the Leader of the Opposition in the new House.

B.S. Yediyurappa is tipped to get the job. Mr. Yediyurappa has already given notice that he would not spare the coalition Government.

He is expected to question its very formation on the ground that the people of the State had opted for the BJP and not the Congress and the Janata Dal (S).

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