The BJP on Sunday picked Rajendra Rathore as the Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly and former state party chief Satish Poonia as his deputy.
The post of Leader of Opposition has been lying vacant after Gulab Chand Kataria was appointed as the Assam governor in February this year.
Sixty-eight-year-old Rathore, a seven-time MLA who currently represents Churu in the Assembly, was the Deputy Leader of Opposition.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of BJP MLAs and office-bearers at the state party headquarters here. The meeting was chaired by newly appointed state president C P Joshi.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was present in the meeting.
Fifty-eight-year-old Poonia, a first-time MLA from Amber, headed the state unit of the party for more than three years. He was replaced by Chittorgarh MP C P Joshi a few days ago.
Rathore had filed a PIL in the high court in December on the issue of resignation of Congress MLAs, seeking directions to the speaker to decide on their resignations.
On his elevation, Rathore said that the party has given the opportunity to a ground-level worker like him.
As soon as the announcements of new appointments were made by the party, supporters of Rathore and Poonia expressed their happiness and started raising slogans outside the party office.
The leaders were also congratulated by party MLAs and others.
- With PTI Input
