BJP elects Gulab Chand Kataria to lead opposition in assembly
TNN | Jan 14, 2019, 06:45 IST
Gulab Chand Kataria (File Photo)JAIPUR: Udaipur MLA and former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria was unanimously elected the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajasthan assembly at the first meeting of the state BJP legislative party on Sunday.
Former parliamentary affairs minister and Churu MLA Rajendra Rathore was nominated as his deputy at the same meeting, which was held at the state party headquarters in the presence of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and other senior leaders.
The move has further strengthened speculations about Raje's restricted role in state politics and the party's decision to involve her at the national level. It is strongly believed that the party high command is keen on Raje contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, creating a space for a leadership change within the state BJP.
Vasundhara Raje proposed Kataria’s name
It was Raje who proposed the name of 74-year-old Kataria for LoP at the Sunday’s meeting which was unanimously seconded by the MLAs. While he is an 8-time MLA, Rathore is a 7-time MLA.
“We will play the role of a dedicated opposition for the next five years, be the voice of the people in the state. We will also work on the shortcomings that restricted us from getting the required number of seats and try to win all the 25 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” said Kataria, after being elected as the Leader of Opposition. Kataria, will also be the pro-tem speaker to conduct the first meeting of the newly elected assembly.
“We will maintain a constructive approach and keep a close eye on the government’s functioning to ensure that no wrong decisions are taken,” said Rathore.
Addressing the media, BJP’s national general secretary Arun Singh said there was only one proposal for the post. “The Congress has formed the government in the state but it does not have a clear mandate. There is need to keep a check on the government which has made tall promises. While confusion prevails on its announcement of farm loan waiver of up to Rs two lakh, it has not announced when it will start providing the allowance to unemployed youth,” said Singh.
Union HRD minister and party’s poll in-charge in the state Prakash Javadekar, national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, party’s state president Madan Lal Saini were also present at the meeting.
Former parliamentary affairs minister and Churu MLA Rajendra Rathore was nominated as his deputy at the same meeting, which was held at the state party headquarters in the presence of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and other senior leaders.
The move has further strengthened speculations about Raje's restricted role in state politics and the party's decision to involve her at the national level. It is strongly believed that the party high command is keen on Raje contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, creating a space for a leadership change within the state BJP.
Vasundhara Raje proposed Kataria’s name
It was Raje who proposed the name of 74-year-old Kataria for LoP at the Sunday’s meeting which was unanimously seconded by the MLAs. While he is an 8-time MLA, Rathore is a 7-time MLA.
“We will play the role of a dedicated opposition for the next five years, be the voice of the people in the state. We will also work on the shortcomings that restricted us from getting the required number of seats and try to win all the 25 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” said Kataria, after being elected as the Leader of Opposition. Kataria, will also be the pro-tem speaker to conduct the first meeting of the newly elected assembly.
“We will maintain a constructive approach and keep a close eye on the government’s functioning to ensure that no wrong decisions are taken,” said Rathore.
Addressing the media, BJP’s national general secretary Arun Singh said there was only one proposal for the post. “The Congress has formed the government in the state but it does not have a clear mandate. There is need to keep a check on the government which has made tall promises. While confusion prevails on its announcement of farm loan waiver of up to Rs two lakh, it has not announced when it will start providing the allowance to unemployed youth,” said Singh.
Union HRD minister and party’s poll in-charge in the state Prakash Javadekar, national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, party’s state president Madan Lal Saini were also present at the meeting.
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