Bengaluru : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday appointed R Ashoka as the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly after the BJP Legislature Party meeting today.

The names of Sunil Kumar, Ashwath Narayan and Araga Jnanendra were doing the rounds as contenders for the post.

The BJP faced criticism from the ruling Congress over the delay in the appointment of the Leader of Opposition months after polls were held.

In the state Assembly election held in May, the Congress secured a victory with wins on 135 seats while the BJP won 66 seats.

The decision of the BJP, which is the principle opposition party in Karnataka, comes ahead of the winter session of the state legislature in Belagavi from December 4.

The previous session of the Karnataka Assembly in July was held without the Leader of the Opposition.

Former CM Basavaraj Bommai, reacting to the development, said, “It was a unanimous choice. He is a senior leader. I congratulate him. I am very happy.”