Karnataka: 'Dissident' Ramesh Jarkiholi visits absconder' JN Ganesh's home

Ballari: Congress legislator, Ramesh Jarkiholi  has come out in open support of Kampli Congress MLA, J N Ganesh, who is absconding following his drunken brawl with Congress legislator, B S Anand Singh at a resort recently

Mr Jarkiholi, one of the party rebels, who has been keeping the coalition government on tenterhooks, on Tuesday visited Mr Ganesh's home  in Hospete and protested the "injustice" done to him, claiming he was being made a scapegoat in the resort episode.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Mr Ganesh's wife, Sridevi, he said the MLA had been seriously injured in the  brawl and was subjected to caste abuse.

" Why should he surrender to the police when has done nothing wrong? Mr  Ganesh too had decided to file a police case against Mr Anand Singh for abusing him using his caste, soon after the resort incident, but some senior Congress leaders held him back.  I too advised him at the time over the phone not to file a case against a fellow legislator," he said, adding that Mr Singh should withdraw the attempt to murder case he had filed against Mr Ganesh and a thorough inquiry should be conducted into the resort episode.

"Hagaribommanahalli MLA, Bhima Naik  was present during brawl and he should be asked to reveal what really happened that day," he contended, explaining that he had visited Mr Ganesh's family as they were anxious about him.

 Although back with the Congress after giving it a few anxious moments, Mr  Jarkiholi, admitted that he was still not happy with the party leadership." I'm disappointed with my party, but there is no question of quitting it", he said