Though the winter session of the State legislature is set to begin on Monday in Belagavi, the Opposition BJP is yet to choose the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.
In the 75-member Council, the BJP is in the majority with 34 members, excluding Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, followed by 29 members of the Congress, eight members of the Janata Dal (Secular) and an Independent member. While two seats are vacant.
Sources said the party may weigh the factor of regional balance more than the caste factor while declaring its leader in the Council. Hence a leader from North Karnataka might get a chance to lead the Opposition in the Council as BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra belongs to Malnad/Central Karnataka and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok is from South Karnataka. Both are from Old Mysore region.
