Saffron dissent: Ramesh Jarkiholi to quit BJP?

Sachidananda Gautam I NT

Bengaluru: Simmering discontent in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the inordinate delay in expanding the state cabinet is likely to prove costly for the party with the Assembly elections just six months away.

There are six vacancies in the Bommai cabinet now. Senior party leader and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi was conspicuous by his absence from Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s Janasankalpa Yatra, as he is disappointed with the party’s high command and state leaders over the delay in inducting him into the cabinet.

He is said to be considering quitting the BJP. Belagavi, the bastion of the saffronists, is abuzz with rumours that Ramesh and his supporters are quitting the BJP and joining the Congress. Besides Ramesh Jarkiholi, former minister KS Eshwarappa, CP Yogeshwar and Raju Gowda and R Shankar are also upset with the treatment meted out to them by the party in the last few months.

These leaders and a few legislators are exerting pressure on Bommai and his predecessor B S Yediyurappa to include them in the cabinet. Portfolios including Bengaluru Development, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Food and Civil Supplies have no Independent minister, an aspirant from North Karnataka said.

“The government should at least explain the pressing reason behind not expanding the cabinet,’’ he quipped. It is also said that some leaders, who deserted the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) are upset with the discriminatory treatment meted out to them and are having second thoughts about their political future. Eshwarappa, who resigned following the controversy pertaining to the suicide of contractor Santosh Patil, is equally upset.

According to reliable sources, Bommai had promised to accommodate him in the cabinet which has not happned till now. But he has no other option as he is seeking the party ticket either for himself or his son Kantesh from Shivamogga constituency.

C P Yogeshwar, who was assured by the party’s top leader B L Santosh of inducting him into the cabinet, is waiting patiently, as he is all set to fight against former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) top gun HD Kumaraswamy from Channapatna constituency.

“Expansion of Bommai’s cabinet has become a joke in political circles of Karnataka in the past few months. Some BJP leaders and legislators want to gain the tag of ‘former minister’. Now that too has become a dream for them”, said a disgruntled legislator from North Karnataka.

“Some senior leaders, who are keen to join the ministry, recently communicated to the party high command that there is no meaning in joining the cabinet when the polls are just six months away. We will become ministers for namesake and it is not beneficial, either to the party or to the leaders”, said another senior leader.

It is reliably learnt that Ramesh Jarkiholi recently met Bommai to know, whether he would be included in the cabinet or not. Sources close to Ramesh disclosed that Bommai expressed his inability stating that the ball is in the court of the high command, Bommai said that; he has no option except to wait till the ensuing election to the Gujarat Assembly are over.

This development has caused a lot of hearburn to Ramesh Jarkiholi and scores of other aspirants. Though the Congress is ready to welcome Ramesh, it has to be cleared by a committee headed by Allam Veerabhadrappa.

The Janata Dal (Secular) has kept its doors open for anyone joining their party as it is looking for candidates to field in several constituencies. The rumour of Ramesh Jarkiholi quitting the BJP has sent tremors through the party as its position has been considerably weakened in north Karnataka following the untimely death of Umesh Katti and Anand Mamani.

Another senior leader told News Trail that the party is aware of the fact that Ramesh Jarkiholi is upset and will make every effort to pacify him. ‘’At any cost, we will not allow him to quit the party” said another leader, who is close to Bommai.