Lakshman Savadi joins Congress with 3 demands, including minister’s post

Savadi has a tough road ahead in Belagavi district due to the presence of strong Congress leaders like Satish Jarkiholi, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, and Prakash Hukkeri and they may not allow him to hog the limelight

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader, Lakshman Savadi who joined the Congress Party after being denied the ticket from Athani constituency in Belagavi district, is said to have put forth some conditions before State Congress leaders. On Friday, KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar arranged a special flight from Belagavi to Bengaluru for Savadi. Congress MLC Chennaraj Hattiholi accompanied the BJP MLC on the flight.

After arriving here, Savadi drove straight to the house of Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah. AICC General Secretary & In-charge of Karnataka Affairs Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shivakumar were also present to welcome another leader from Belagavi district into the Congress fold. They had a discussion for about one hour on the modalities for formally joining the Congress Party. Savadi will resign from the Legislative Council before taking up primary membership of the Congress Party.

According to sources close to Siddaramaiah, the Belagavi leader is learnt to have put forth three demands - the ticket for the Athani seat must be given to him or his son, he should be made in-charge of four to five Assembly constituencies in the district and a minister’s post if the Congress Party forms the government. It is believed that Congress leaders have sought a day’s time to decide on the demands of Savadi.

However, the entry of Savadi into the Congress Party has not brought any cheer among Belagavi leaders in general and Athani in particular since he had been their rival all these years. Besides, there were some aspirants in the Congress Party for Athani. With Savadi claiming the Congress ticket, it is sure to cause heartburn among the aspirants.

Savadi has a tough road ahead in Belagavi district due to the presence of strong Congress leaders like Satish Jarkiholi, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, and Prakash Hukkeri and they may not allow him to hog the limelight. He had a free hand in BJP with absolutely no political competitors except Ramesh Jarkiholi. That luxury may not be there for him in the Congress Party.

All said and done, the Cong ress may use the services of Savadi till the Assembly polls and then decide on what to do with him.