Hubballi: Athani Congress MLA Mahesh Kumathalli made it clear on Friday that he will not quit the party amid speculation that he is likely to back dissident Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi.
Addressing press persons in Belagavi on Friday, Mr Kumathalli claimed that he has been associated with the Congress for the last 25-30 years and termed reports of him quitting the party as mere speculation. Denying the charge that he has worked in favour of the BJP in the parliamentary elections, he asserted that he had campaigned in favour of Congress candidate for Chikkodi Prakash Hukkeri for more than one month.
"Reports of Ramesh Jarkiholi set to quit the Congress have not come to my notice. I don't want to react to these reports as they will do no good to any politician. Neither Ramesh nor I will desert the party", Mr Kumathalli said.
Earlier, the Congress legislator had publicly declared that he will stand by Ramesh Jarkiholi in the event of injustice meted out to him. Stating that he would abide by the decision taken by Jarkiholi, he had also said that the Congress high command should establish contact with him (Jarkiholi) at the earliest to resolve his problems.
