I had contributed for the construction of Congress office in Belagavi: Karnataka BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi

Belagavi: BJP MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi on Wednesday, said that as the then Congress MLA and district incharge minister, he had largely contributed for the construction of the Congress District Office at the RTO Circle here.

"Party MLAs, too, had contributed in their own way and Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D K Shivakumar crediting the Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar alone was wrong. We are happy that Public Works Department and District Incharge Minister Satish Jarkiholi took exception for it during the Congress Legislature Party meeting," he said.

Jarkiholi told reporters here on Wednesday that he came across media reports mentioning that his brother and minister Satish had taken exception to the remarks by Shivakumar of crediting Hebbalkar alone for the District Congress Office construction during the Congress Legislature Party meeting.

"I got it confirmed from my MLA friends in the Congress and was satisfied that Satish took exception to it, and also due to the fact that my name came up on the issue of allocation of lands and funds for the construction of the Congress office," he said.

He said, Congress leaders from the state and Delhi wanted a party office in Belagavi and had formed a committee under the then public works minister Dr H C Mahadevappa for mobilising funds and lands required during the period between 2013 and 2018. Hebbalkar was in my team during that time. I had got the lands allocated and had even convinced former Union Minister B Shankaranand’s son not to object for the lands as earlier the title was on their name. Belagavi City Corporation was paid Rs 57 lakh in two instalments for the lands with Hebbalkar being Congress Belagavi Rural District president then.

"Building construction work picked up after I became the district incharge minister and contributed Rs 1.2 crore. Giving credit to Hebbalkar alone was wrong and it should be made known as to how much she actually contributed. Satish, too, contributed, and now looks after the management costs of the office," Jarkiholi stated.

"As the district incharge minister, I had not allowed Shivakumar to meddle in district affairs. But now, as I am with the BJP, I am not concerned with the developments in Congress," he stated.

Without naming Hebbalkar, he said, incumbent district president Vinay Navagatti should give the details about funds contributed for luxuries and purchase of vehicles.