Ramesh Jarkiholi vows to quit Congress

BENGALURU: The Congress-JD(S) coalition government is likely to head for another round of turmoil with former minister and disgruntled Congress MLA

Ramesh Jarkiholi

deciding to quit the party and join BJP.


Ramesh, who has been sulking after he was dropped from the cabinet a few months ago, told reporters on Tuesday that he has made up his mind to quit Congress. He accused state Congress leaders of being indifferent to his grievances. “I have decided to resign from my assembly membership and quit Congress,” he said after casting his vote in Gokak.

Asked when he would resign, Ramesh said soon. “I am in Congress only technically. I will announce the date of my resignation soon.” On joining BJP, he said: “I am still a Congress MLA and can’t say about my plans openly.” But he gave enough hint saying that when the Katti brothers were upset after being denied Lok Sabha ticket from Chikkodi, state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa went to their house and pacified them.

Decision better for Ramesh, says Satish
That is not the case in Congress,” Ramesh said. Reacting to Ramesh’s decision, his younger brother and forest minister Satish Jarkiholi said it was better for him (Ramesh), the party and the coalition government. “The earlier he leaves the Congress, the better for him and the party as it will put an end to the ongoing confusion,” he added.

Ramesh’s resignation could pose a threat to the stability of the Kumaraswamy government as two to three Congress MLAs, including Mahesh Kumatalli and B Nagendra, are expected to leave with Ramesh. Before the budget session, these three MLAs along with Umesh V Jadhav, who resigned as Congress MLA and contested from Kalaburagi against Mallikarjun Kharge, had camped in Mumbai. They had defied the party whip thrice, forcing Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah to recommend their disqualification.

The development has given opposition BJP ammunition to create doubts about survival of the government. “Dissidence in Congress and JD(S) will explode after the poll results and the Kumaraswamy government will collapse,” BJP’s Sriramulu said.

State BJP president Yeddyurappa said. “Over 20 MLAs are not happy with this government's performance. They don’t trust even Kumaraswamy. When the Modi government returns, the state will see big political change,” he said.

Rift among Jarkiholis out in the open
Under wraps all these years, the rift between the Jarkiholi brothers came out in the open with both Ramesh and Satish trading barbs. Soon after Ramesh announced his decision to quit Congress, Satish, who is also Belagavi district minister, said: “It is better for Ramesh and Congress.” Two days ago, he had taken objection to Ramesh for indirectly supporting BJP in Belagavi and Chikkodi LS seats and asked his brother to come out in the open and resign from the Congress instead of “hiding in the dark”.

He even said his younger brother Lakhan would contest against Ramesh in the byelection to be held after Ramesh resigns from his assembly membership. “He (Satish) has lost his mental balance. I am not a coward to hit anyone from the dark,” Ramesh said. On making Lakhan contest against him in Gokak, Ramesh said, “He (Satish) has spoiled the political career of one brother (Bheemashi), and is now spoiling another’s. I will be happy to see Lakhan as MLA and will leave my seat for him.”