<p>Several defeated lawmakers and candidates are seething at the BJP’s failure to give them a platform to be heard, with many of them itching to spill the beans on why the party lost the May 10 Assembly election.</p>.<p>It was only on Sunday that former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with defeated MLAs of Belagavi district, a move that came a full three weeks after the BJP’s abysmal poll defeat.</p>.<p>A seven-time BJP candidate told <em><span class="italic">DH</span> </em>that the BJP has a procedure of inviting defeated MLAs for a meeting that usually takes place within a week after the election results and the process of electing a new Leader of the Opposition is complete. </p>.<p>“The idea is to know the exact reasons why the party lost in seats where it had won. This picture can be given only by defeated candidates,” this candidate said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/bjp-under-pressure-to-replace-kateel-after-workers-backlash-1219334.html" target="_blank">BJP under pressure to replace Kateel after workers' backlash</a></strong></p>.<p>The latent anger among defeated candidates, including MLAs who lost their seats, seems to be directed at Bommai and BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel. Some say that a meeting has not been convened expressly because the top brass knows that the knives will be out. </p>.<p>“MLAs’ pleas to convene the Karnataka Development Plan meetings were ignored. District in-charge ministers, who were from different districts, did not focus on implementing welfare schemes which marred the party’s prospects,” one leader said.</p>.<p>Sarcastically, former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda said the number of ‘<em>aatmas</em>’ (souls) has decreased in all parties and that’s why '<em>Aatmavalokana</em>' (introspection) is not happening.</p>.<p>“There’s not a single <em>aatma</em> to do <em>avalokana</em>,” Gowda quipped.</p>.<p>Gowda, who also served as the BJP state president, pointed out that the party used to appoint its Leader of the Opposition within 2-3 days after a new CM is in place. “I am surprised that this time, it has not followed this time-tested policy,” he said.</p>.<p>The Bangalore North MP appealed to leaders to convene a legislature party meeting to discuss and appoint the Leader of the Opposition without further delay.</p>.<p>“We need to find reasons for our defeat and move forward. This election result should also serve as an eye-opener to winners as well losers. Rich candidates have been defeated, those who spoke harshly have been defeated and parties must respect love and harmony in the society,” he said.</p>
<p>Several defeated lawmakers and candidates are seething at the BJP’s failure to give them a platform to be heard, with many of them itching to spill the beans on why the party lost the May 10 Assembly election.</p>.<p>It was only on Sunday that former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with defeated MLAs of Belagavi district, a move that came a full three weeks after the BJP’s abysmal poll defeat.</p>.<p>A seven-time BJP candidate told <em><span class="italic">DH</span> </em>that the BJP has a procedure of inviting defeated MLAs for a meeting that usually takes place within a week after the election results and the process of electing a new Leader of the Opposition is complete. </p>.<p>“The idea is to know the exact reasons why the party lost in seats where it had won. This picture can be given only by defeated candidates,” this candidate said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/bjp-under-pressure-to-replace-kateel-after-workers-backlash-1219334.html" target="_blank">BJP under pressure to replace Kateel after workers' backlash</a></strong></p>.<p>The latent anger among defeated candidates, including MLAs who lost their seats, seems to be directed at Bommai and BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel. Some say that a meeting has not been convened expressly because the top brass knows that the knives will be out. </p>.<p>“MLAs’ pleas to convene the Karnataka Development Plan meetings were ignored. District in-charge ministers, who were from different districts, did not focus on implementing welfare schemes which marred the party’s prospects,” one leader said.</p>.<p>Sarcastically, former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda said the number of ‘<em>aatmas</em>’ (souls) has decreased in all parties and that’s why '<em>Aatmavalokana</em>' (introspection) is not happening.</p>.<p>“There’s not a single <em>aatma</em> to do <em>avalokana</em>,” Gowda quipped.</p>.<p>Gowda, who also served as the BJP state president, pointed out that the party used to appoint its Leader of the Opposition within 2-3 days after a new CM is in place. “I am surprised that this time, it has not followed this time-tested policy,” he said.</p>.<p>The Bangalore North MP appealed to leaders to convene a legislature party meeting to discuss and appoint the Leader of the Opposition without further delay.</p>.<p>“We need to find reasons for our defeat and move forward. This election result should also serve as an eye-opener to winners as well losers. Rich candidates have been defeated, those who spoke harshly have been defeated and parties must respect love and harmony in the society,” he said.</p>