Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's Stand: The Self-Proclaimed Opposition Leader

Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claims to be the 'real leader of opposition' in Karnataka's legislative assembly after losing his seat, requesting the Speaker to place him and two other MLAs in front-row seats due to their seniority. The Speaker emphasized that seating is not based on seniority.

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a senior MLA expelled from the BJP, stirred the Karnataka legislative assembly on Tuesday by asserting himself as the 'real leader of opposition'. He appealed to the Speaker, requesting front-row seating alongside the Deputy Speaker for himself and two other MLAs due to their seniority.

Yatnal and his fellow un-attached members were relegated to backbench seats post-expulsion. He criticized this as disrespect towards long-serving legislators, calling for a revision of their seating arrangements by the next day. The Speaker countered that political power, not seniority, dictates seating priority.

The Speaker noted that Yatnal had front-row privilege while with the BJP, and suggested party status determines seating. Defending his stance, Yatnal argued his independence from political adjustments, claiming his legitimacy as the 'real leader of opposition', despite the presence of the official Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka.

(With inputs from agencies.)