Forget about Congress, BJP MLAs want to jump ship now: Ramesh Jarkiholi

Belagavi: Denying speculative reports that more than 27 ‘disgruntled’ MLAs from the Congress party are in touch with the BJP top leadership in the past few days, Public Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said that already, several BJP legislators are in regular touch with him. The party high command will soon take a call on whether to induct these BJP legislators into the Congress, he said.

Speaking to media persons in Belagavi, Mr Jarkiholi said all Congress legislators were loyal to the party even though attempts were being made to spread false stories that they were trying to join the BJP. “For some time, some BJP legislators are in regular contact with me. The party high command will soon take a decision on their entry into the Congress,'' he added.

Commenting on the statement of Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar that some leaders in his party were involved in ‘hero worship' in what seemed to be a reference to a  recent meeting of party legislators with former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Mr Jarkiholi said, Siddaramaiah was not merely a former CM, he was also a tall Congress leader and so several Congress legislators had recently met him to enquire about his health.

“Siddaramaiah did several favours for me and also for the party over the past several years. In recongnition of his yeoman contribution, it is our duty to respect and honour him. How could our meeting with Siddaramaiah be described as ‘hero worship?' The statement which Shivakumar gave is his personal view,'' he retorted.

Asserting that Siddaramaiah had never opposed tabling of the budget by the new government, Jarkiholi said he had only called upon leaders to continue with the projects which were implemented by the previous government. His suggestions should be considered seriously by the new government, he added.