Kolkata:Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Chief Minister Mamta Banejree in the recently held Assembly poll, was today unanimously elected as the BJP's legislative party leader and becomes leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
"Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari will now be the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly as party legislators have picked him up as their leader," announced Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Mr Prasad said party MLA Mukul Roy proposed the name of Adhikari and some 22 legislators seconded the proposal.He also asked the party legislators if they have any other name for the post but none of them came out.
BJP has altogether 77 legislators in the 294-member house for which election held to 292.The ruling Trinamool Congress swept to power for the 3rd time in a row with an overwhelming majority winning 213 seats.
The poll for two seats - Jangipur and Shamshergunj- postponed for an indefinite period due to the death of RSP and Congress candidates.BJP's central leadership had appointed Mr Prasad and national general secretary Bhupender Yadav to oversee the election of the party leadership for the assembly in the state.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh was among the senior party leaderspresent during the legislative party meeting.Former aid turned political rival fifty-one-year-old Adhikari defeated
Ms Banerjee by a thin margin of 1956 votes.(UNI)
