R. Ashok, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J
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 claims projecting his father and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy as the next Chief Minister of the state, Mr Ashok dismissed any talk of a CM candidate as premature. “First let’s win the election,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on February 27, he noted that both the BJP and the JD(S) are constituents of the NDA. Any decision on the CM candidate will be with the leadership of the alliance comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party’s national president and the same will be binding on them.
Mr. Ashok said discussions are still on for a possible alliance between the two parties for the upcoming elections to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and other local bodies in Karnataka.
He added that the BJP leader for the GBA elections had sought the views of key state leaders, including himself, state unit president BY Vijayendra, and senior leaders, including Union ministers, on the proposed alliance.
Irrespective of the views of individuals, party leaders at the state level will follow the decision taken by the national leadership, keeping in mind the interests of the country, he said.
While reiterating that the BJP–JD(S) alliance would continue, Mr. Ashok maintained that the issue of NDA’s CM candidate remains undecided. “There’s no way he’s going to decide the matter now,” he added.
Published – 27 Feb 2026 16:05 IST
