Jarkiholi shocks again: 'Don’t vote BJP unless Press Trust of India you get Rs 6k from us'

NT Correspondent

Belagavi: Gaffes have been coming in thick and fast from the BJP and this time, it was former minister and Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi who did the unthinkable proclaiming that each voter would receive a gift worth ?6,000 from the BJP in the lead-up to the Assembly elections. Adding to the embarrassment is the fact that he made the statement at a rally in his native Belagavi district’s Sulebhavi village.

The former state irrigation minister made the comments during a tirade against his rival and Belagavi Rural MP Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who is said to have been distributing gifts among her constituents. This prompted Jarkiholi to declare that the BJP would gift people even more expensive gifts, implying the saffron party was far wealthier. The BJP leaders were quick to distance themselves from the statement.

“It has come to my notice that she (Hebbalkar) is distributing gifts among her supporters. She may have gifted some kitchen appliances such as cookers and mixers worth ? 1,000 or so. She might even shower you with more gifts. However, they might not amount to more than ? 3,000. In fact, I request you not to vote for our (BJP’s) candidate if we don’t gift you ?6,000,” Ramesh is heard saying in the video clip. State Minister for Irrigation Govind Karjol played it safe asserting that the BJP had risen to power on its popularity and not money.

Congress MLC Nagraj Yadav on the other hand, claimed that it was a similar pattern with the BJP, which he claimed was steeped in “40 percent commission” adding that once the model code of conduct was imposed, such statements should be punished. Jarkiholi had resigned as minister in March 2021 after sex scam allegations.