Hubballi: Forest minister Satish Jarkiholi warned on Monday that the Congress would do a “reverse operation” if the BJP tried to poach its legislators.
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, he said he was confident that no other Congress legislator would quit the party and all its internal problems, including the resignation of MLA, Anand Singh would be sorted out at the meeting convened by the co-ordination committee chief, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday
Responding to the speculation over Athani MLA, Mahesh Kumatalli's resignation, he said he would not desert the party as he had spoken to him on the phone while he was in Bengaluru and clarified matters. “Although two legislators have tendered their resignation, they could change their minds. Their resignation will not affect the stability of the coalition government. Mr Anand Singh has resigned over the Jindal issue. It has nothing to do with the group of disgruntled legislators,” he added. The minister, however, asserted that he would not make any attempt to persuade his brother and Gokak MLA, Ramesh Jarkiholi to remain in the party as he had been dancing to the tunes of his brother-in-law, Ambirao Patil.
Meanwhile, several Congress leaders, including home minister, M B Patil and Laxmi Hebbalkar held an informal meeting in Belagavi to discuss the resignation of the two legislators. Kagwad MLA, Shrimant Patil, a loyalist of Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was present at the meeting, said he would not quit the Congress. He claimed Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi too had never discussed deserting the party with him.
