CM won over directors to make Jarkiholi KMF chief: HD Revanna
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Revanna said he had to withdraw from the contest in the interest of the farming community.
Hassan: Having lost the race for the post of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) president, Janata Dal Secular (JDS) MLA and former minister, H.D. Revanna claimed on Saturday that Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had manipulated things to make sure his party leader, Balachandra Jarkiholi bagged the top job.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Revanna said he had to withdraw from the contest in the interest of the farming community.
“On becoming Chief Minister, Mr Yediyurappa asked for the KMF election files and manipulated things to suit his man. Eight directors of the federation were in a meeting when its managing director left following a phone call from Mr Yediyurappa,” he claimed to support his argument that the Chief Minister had influenced the directors to back Mr Jarkiholi.
Crediting his father and JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda, for the growth of the dairy sector in the state along with the late Verghese Kurien, popularly called the father of the milk revolution in the country, he alleged that Mr Yediyurappa was being vengeful in trying to keep his family out of the KMF.
“Let’s see how long he is able to play his vengeful politics against us,” he added. But he offered Mr Jarkiholi his fullest cooperation, saying he was happy a Valmiki community leader had become KMF chief.
On the reported move to remove Chikkamagaluru from the Hassan Milk Union, Mr Revanna warned it would result in a financial loss as it would take around Rs 300 crore to set up another milk union. Moreover, Hassan produced about 10 lakh litres of milk a day and Chikkamagaluru merely one lakh litres, he pointed out.