Fighting in Belagavi BJP reaches CM’ s court

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Rapid political developments in the ruling BJP in Belagavi seems to have become a big headache for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who completed six months in office on Friday.

A delegation of BJP leaders led by Forest Minister Umesh Katti and MLC Laxman Savadi are in the State capital to meet the CM and highlight the problems because of Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi who has suddenly became hyper active in the district. He along with his two brothers, Balachandra and Lakhan are reportedly exerting severe pressure on Bommai to induct Ramesh into the Cabinet.

The KMF President Balachandra Jarkiholi has been regularly issuing statements that the sacrifice made by 17 Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) lawmakers in the installation of the BJP government must not be forgotten. Through this, Balachandra is indirectly advocating his brother’s re-entry into the council of ministers. Most governments in the past have had one of the Jarkiholi brothers in them but not the Bommai government.

Ramesh Jarkiholi who was accused of backstabbing the BJP by ensuring the defeat of party candidate, Mahantesh Kavatagimath in the recent Council polls, and the victory of his brother, Lakhan Jarkiholi, is trying his best to get back into the ministry after being forced to resign over the sex CD scandal. There are regular hot exchanges between the Katti, Savadi and Jarkiholi families for supremacy in Belagavi district.

Last week’s secret meeting between Katti and Savadi over a possible Cabinet rejig has not gone down well with Ramesh who slammed the duo for neglecting him. In retaliation, Katti questioned the contributions of Jarkiholi. This open spat among the three BJP leaders has caused embarrassment to the party.