Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 29: A section of BJP leaders believe that MP, Shobha Karandlaje's overtures to sacrifice her Lok Sabha seat and become a legislator are backed purely by her intention to become leader of the opposition in the state legislative council.

The terms of membership of MLCs, K B Shanappa and Tara Anuradha, who were nominated to the council by the BJP, are set to end on August 9 this year. It is said that Karandlaje wants to get nominated to one of the seats vacated by them and then get appointed as the leader of the opposition in the council.

Because of this plan, it is said, Shobha has been openly stating that she would not be fighting again from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha seat next year. Some believe that by offering to sacrifice the Lok Sabha membership she currently holds, Shobha wants to earn a good reputation in the party, which will help her to get her wishes fulfilled. There have been complaints from the electorate of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency about the MP not being available most of the time and not doing enough for her constituency.

Becoming leader of the opposition in the legislative council will facilitate Shobha to become minister if BJP forms government by partnering with JD(S) in future. The former minister is farsighted enough to set her eyes for s ministerial position now itself, if at all a coalition government is formed by BJP and JD(S) in the state.

If Shobha becomes a council member and gets appointed as opposition leader there, Kota Srinivas Poojary, who currently holds this post, will have to be unseated. Srinivas Poojary has the reputation of being a no-nonsense politician with clean track record. If he is asked to vacate his seat, the party may face dissent from a section of legislators, political analysts believe.