No decision yet on NDA’s CM candidate for Karnataka, says Leader of Opposition R. Ashok

NDA's Karnataka CM candidate remains undecided, says R. Ashok, emphasizing alliance discussions and leadership involvement ahead of elections.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok has clarified that no decision has been taken on the chief ministerial candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka for the next Assembly elections due in 2028.

When his attention was drawn to JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s assertions projecting his father and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy as the next Chief Minister of the State, Mr Ashok dismissed as premature any talk on the CM candidate. “Let us first win the elections,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on February 27, he noted that both BJP and JD(S) are constituents of the NDA. Any decision on the CM candidate will involve the alliance’s leadership comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party’s national president, and the same will be binding on them.

Mr. Ashok said discussions were still underway on a possible alliance between the two parties for the upcoming elections to Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and other local bodies in Karnataka.

He added that the BJP’s GBA election in-charge had sought the views of key State leaders, including himself, State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra, and senior leaders, including Union Ministers, on the proposed alliance.

Irrespective of individual opinions, the party’s State-level leaders will abide by the decision taken by the national leadership, keeping the country’s interests in mind, he said.