Jammu, Nov 02: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will convene its legislative party meeting in Srinagar on Sunday to elect the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Deputy Speaker in the presence of two observers appointed by the party high command.
Following the recent Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured 29 seats—its best performance in Jammu and Kashmir—the party has positioned itself as the largest opposition force. The posts of Leader of Opposition and Deputy Speaker traditionally go to the largest opposition party.
The BJP high command has appointed Tarun Chugh, the party’s in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir affairs, and Union Minister Prahlad Joshi as central observers for this process.
“All 29 MLAs of the BJP have been directed to arrive in Srinagar for the legislative party meeting, which is scheduled for 11 am tomorrow (Sunday). Most have already reached, while the remaining members are expected to arrive by tomorrow morning,” a senior BJP leader told Rising Kashmir.
Party sources said the meeting will likely take place at the official residence of BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session is set to commence on November 4, which necessitates the election of the LoP and Deputy Speaker beforehand.
Front-runners for the positions include two-time MLAs Sunil Sharma and Dr Devender Manyal, former minister Sham Lal Sharma and BJP national secretary Dr Narinder Singh. There is speculation that a new face could emerge as a candidate for these roles.
