It’s dramatic political developments which haunt fragile coalition Government of the JD(S) and the Congress in Karnataka led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Congress is threatened with a major revolt by powerful Jarkihole brothers from Belagavi and the Congress netas were waiting for former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was away holidaying in Europe.
After his 12-day sojourn ended on Sunday Siddaramaiah is the crisis manager for the Congress to douse the fire. Many Congress leaders which include AICC general secretary and Karnataka in charge KC Venugopal made a beeline to meet Siddaramaiah who is behind the crisis to take control over the party.
Apart from Venugopal, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, party’s working president Eshwar Khandre and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara met Siddaramaiah at his official residence Cauvery, to take stock of the Belagavi impasse. They discussed many issues including the revolt which has threatened the HDK Government. Jarkihole brothers, Municipalities Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and former Minister Satish Jarkiholi, have threatened to raise a banner of revolt following their feud with party MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar and Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar.
The party has confided in Siddaramaiah to trouble shoot the problem as Jarkihole brothers are close associates of him and who can certainly control them against breaking away.
Amidst speculation that the Jarkiholi brothers (who have made several demands) might defect to the BJP with a few MLAs, the duo have maintained that they would not pose a threat to the Government. During the meeting, Siddaramaiah is learnt to have to have taken exception to his name being dragged in to this controversy.
Venugopal who was rushed to Bengaluru to meet up with Siddaramaiah to trouble shoot the problem, blamed BJP of trying to destabilise coalition Government in Karnataka. He said after the meeting that there is no problem and the coalition Government will complete its full term. He said “The Jarkiholi brothers aren’t posing problems. It is a district issue — the State leaders have resolved it. There may be some differences. But this will not affect the Government. There is no threat to the Government —it is 100% safe. The BJP is playing games. It is trying to topple Government with black money. But we trust our MLAs,” he added.
State Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao took exception taking Siddaramaiah’s name in the crisis. He said not to drag Siddaramaiah who is not trying to destabilise the Government.