Daijiworld Media Network - Davanagere (MS)

Davanagere, Nov 29: "Some ministers of the state are fighting to get ministerial position for some others. Let those who are lobbying give up their ministerial posts to those who are aspiring to become ministers," said MP Renukacharya, political secretary of CM Yediyurappa, indirectly taunting Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is trying hard to get minister's post for MLC Yogeshwar.

Speaking at Honnali in the district, Renukacharya further said, "Let C P Yogeshwar win the election and then ask for ministerial berth. We have won several times with the votes of people and become MLAs. Let the minister who is lobbying for Yogeshwar sacrifice his position for him.

"BJP has come to power due to organization. There is no discrimination between loyal BJP members and migrants in our party. In BJP, it is the country that comes first. Our aim is to give good administration.

"BJP is ruling in the state under the leadership of chief minister Yediyurappa. Top brasses of the party will discuss with the CM with regard to the expansion of the cabinet. The opposition parties are portraying that there are differences among the BJP MLAs. We do not have any such issues," he said.

"C T Ravi had invited me also for his Delhi office inauguration. Ramesh Jarkiholi is the minister of our state. I had met him with regard to the development of my constituency. We have discussed the feelings of MLAs with the CM and the state party president. No one has spoken against the party.

"The speculation regarding change in state leadership is just an illusion. Neither the state BJP president nor the leaders of our party at the centre have mentioned anywhere about replacing the chief minister. We will win the upcoming gram panchayat elections also under the leadership of Yediyurappa," he asserted.

Tussle continues

The cabinet expansion exercise has been shifted from the national capital to the state capital with the friction between BJP loyalists and migrants from Congress and JD (S) intensifying for ministerial berths.

In the midst of these developments, cracks are being seen in the unity of migrants, who were proudly claiming that they were responsible for the formation of BJP government.

Some of the BJP loyalists have decided not to let go the grip on their demand of not including C P Yogeshwar in the cabinet. They have also started a new argument that if people who have lost elections are given cabinet berth then Malikaiah Guthedar and Baburao Chinchanasoor also should be made ministers by nominating them as MLCs.

In the meantime, migrants have raised their voice for the first time against Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was leading them in getting miniterial berths. It is said that they are unhappy over the fact that Ramesh is giving more importance in getting minister berth to MLC C P Yogeshwar than those who sacrificed to form BJP government.

Many ministers and MLAs have discussed the cabinet expansion matter in meeting held on the night of Friday, November 27. Ramesh Jarkiholi has publicly condemned the meeting and said that it is not right to hold such meetings. This statement by Ramesh has further strengthened the claim that within a year of joining BJP there is difference in opinion among the migrants who have joined the party from Congess and JD (S).

Ramesh Jarkiholi said, "I have not met anyone who held meeting on Friday. Whether they meet me or not, I will continue my fight for them. I am not the leader of the 17 migrant MLAs. My demand is that all of them have to get ministerial berths. I cannot discuss certain issues in public."

MLC MTB Nagaraj has expressed rage over the delay in the expansion of the cabinet. On the other end, C P Yogeshwar is also frustrated that the BJP loyalists are against him.

Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had met the top brasses of BJP in New Delhi, met CM Yediyurappa on Saturday, November 28 and appraised him of the developments. Later MLC MTB Nagaraj met Ramesh Jarkiholi at his residence at Sadashivanagar and discussed for some time. After the discussion, MTB Nagaraja said that he does not have any grudge against anyone but is not happy that the CM is deferring the matter of offering him minister berth. He also said that all the 17 migrants are united.

MLC H Vishwanath said, "I have 40 year of political experience. If I am given the minister position based on my experience, then I will show my efficiency. But I will not wander to Delhi in order to get ministerial berth."

Defending the migrants, state BJP vice-president, B Y Vijayendra said, "They (migrants from Congess and JD (S)) have completed one year after they resign from their respective parties and joined BJP. Do not address them as migrants. They have strengthened our party by joining."

Former minister Raju Gowda openly expressed anger against giving miniterial berth to MLC C P Yogeshwar and said that it is better to give ministerial berths to others also who have lost in the elections.