Decision on quitting after talks with my loyalists: Ramesh Jarkiholi
Hubballi: Former Congress minister, and Gokak legislator Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been unhappy with the party for a while now, hinted on Wednesday that he could resign from it in the next couple of days .
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, he said he would discuss the date of his resignation with Congress legislators who are loyal to him before announcing it.
What's more, he declared he would contest the Gokak Assembly by-election that would become necessary following his resignation from, the House and would take on his brother and minister, Satish Jarkiholi in the Yamakanamaradi constituency the next Assembly poll in Karnataka.
While Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi claimed he was delaying his resignation as he planned to leave the Congress party with a few other legislators, sources say other unhappy Congress MLA may join the BJP only if their party suffers a debacle in the Lok Sabha poll in Karnataka.
Holding his brother, Satish responsible for the dissidence in the Congress, he alleged that he had cheated him.
"Satish is trying to appear like a loyal Congress leader and is speaking out of frustration against me. Belagavi rural MLA, Laxmi Hebbalkar too is fuelling dissidence in the party. I will reveal more about her background after resigning," he added.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Mr Satish Jarkiholi blamed Mr Ramesh jarkiholi's brother-in-law, Ambirao Patil for the rift between them
"Patil is the mastermind behind the crisis and has brainwashed my brother to join the BJP," he charged, adding that he was ready for a dialogue with his brother if Mr Patil was removed from Gokak. "I will not take the allegations made by Ramesh seriously," he maintained, also insisting that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had no role to play in the dissidence in the Belagavi Congress.
Responding to Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi's comments, Congress legislator from Belagavi Ms Laxmi Hebbalkar said his resignation would help second rung leaders to get ahead in the Congress.
