Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 16: State water resources minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had engineered a revolt against the previous coalition government and caused the fall of the Kumaraswamy-led government, is now trying his best to become deputy chief minister, claim media reports.

When the BJP launched Operation Lotus and rose to power in the state, Ramesh had tried to get the position of the deputy chief minister. But the BJP had projected B Srirmulu, who belongs to the Nayaka community of which Jarkiholi is also a member, as the deputy chief ministerial candidate during the election. Therefore, the BJP could not overlook the claim of Sriramulu to that post.

Ramesh Jarkiholi, it is said, has now convinced the party high command about the fact that health minister, Sriramulu, has not been able to efficiently handle the challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic. By projecting Sriramulu as a minister who is not very efficient, Jarkiholi has been insisting that the post of the deputy chief minister should be given to him, sources said.

It is said that Jarkiholi is currently in New Delhi to convince BJP national preisdent, J P Nacda, and national organizing secretary, B L Santhosh, about the genuineness of his claim to the post.

Jarkiholi, who has settled down at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, has been waiting for time to meet Nadda and Santhosh, after seeking an appointment with them. After holding talks with thm, he will hold consultations with union ministers from Karnataka, D V Sadananda Gowda and Prahlad Joshi, it is learnt.