Ex-minister Kataria elected Rajasthan LOP
JAIPUR: Former home minister and Udaipur MLA Gulab Chand Kataria, 74, was on Sunday unanimously elected the leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
The move has strengthened speculation that former chief minister Vasundhara Raje could now be shifted to national politics. She is likely to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Kataria was elected as leader of opposition (LOP) during the state BJP’S first meeting of the legislative party on Sunday. Raje proposed Kataria’s name in the meeting and it was unanimously seconded by the MLAS.
Former parliamentary affairs minister and Churu MLA Rajendra Rathore was nominated as deputy leader of opposition.
Kataria, an eight-time MLA and Rathore, a seven-time MLA are both articulate and aggressive and will keep a strong check on the Congress government.
The party high command is keen to develop a second leader- ship in the state BJP and if Raje is moved out then a revamp in the state unit is on the cards.
Talking to the media after his election as LOP, Kataria said, “We will play the role of opposition for the next five years and be the voice of people in the state.” He said the party will work to rectify shortcomings and try to win all 25 LS seats in the state. Kataria, will also be the pro-tem speaker to conduct the first meeting of the assembly.
BJP leader Arun Singh said there was only one name for the post of LOP. He said the Congress government did not have clear mandate and there was a need to keep a check on the government. He said the government has made tall promises but there is no clarity on the announcement of farm loan waiver.