Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 11: If rumours are to be believed, minister for municipalities and urban local bodies, Ramesh Jarkiholi, the strongman of Belagavi politics, has been trying to engineer the collapse the coalition government in Karnataka. Jarkiholi brothers, Satish, who also is an MLA, and Ramesh, are said to be peeved at the loss of face they suffered in the Primary Land Development Bank election held recently, on account of reported interference of another Congress MLA, Laxmi Hebbalkar. Sources say that Jarkiholi brothers want to teach a lesson to the party because of the perceived support extended by minister, D K Shivakumar, to Laxmi Hebbalkar in the PLD Bank drama.
It is said that Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has not been in station since the last two days, has been in touch with BJP leaders from Maharashtra to discuss the likely repercussions of joining BJP. Reportedly, seven MLAs loyal to the leader are prepared to support Ramesh Jarkiholi in whatever decision he might take. These MLAs might soon meet BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa, who is experiencing frenzied political activity in the state in the face of upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Congress has been going through a rough patch in the state because of its uneasy alliance with JD(S), controversial actions being undertaken by JD(S) ministers, unequivocal support of certain leaders to the chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, a development which is disliked by some of the top party leaders, and internal differences. There are some who claim that this plan was hatched much in advance and that several state Congress leaders were aware of the development. But apparently the leaders, including state Congress president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, seem to be unable to stop this slide.
It is said that national level leaders of BJP have advised Yeddyurappa against taking any hasty steps, going by the experience the party had during the days following assembly election when there was an expectation that Ramesh Jarkiholi might join the saffron party. The BJP seems to be interested in reaping the benefit of the absence of Siddaramaiah, who is on a Europe trip, and Shivakumar's busy schedule on account of legal wrangles which he is said to be facing relating to financial irregularities.