Meet the Jarkiholis

Ramesh Jarkiholi is at the cross-roads of his 22-year-old political career. In his own words, the sex scandal is the biggest crisis he has faced.

His resignation is widely expected to have some bearing on the upcoming bypolls, especially to the Belgaum Lok Sabha seat.

For over two decades now, the Jarkiholi family has ruled the roost in Belagavi, the sugar bowl of Karnataka. The five Jarkiholi brothers, sons of rags-to-riches businessman Laxmanrao Jarkiholi, have grown to become one of Karnataka’s most powerful political families. The family owns sugar factories, educational institutions among other ventures.

Ramesh, 60, is the eldest who represents the Gokak constituency. He made his electoral debut in 1999. Next is Satish Jarkiholi, 58, from the Yamkanmardi constituency. The third sibling is Balachandra Jarkiholi, 54, from the Arabhavi constituency. Then comes Bhimshi Jarkiholi, 52 and the youngest, Lakhan Jarkiholi, 44. They belong to the ST Valmiki community.

Read: Ramesh Jarkiholi’s brother pushes for CID, CBI probe

Family's political diversity

Satish and Lakhan are with the Congress, whereas, Ramesh, Balachandra and Bhimshi are with the BJP. Ramesh, too, was with the Congress until his defection in 2019. The political diversity in the family ensures at least one of them finds a place in the government of the day.

In the 2008 polls, Bhimshi fought as the BJP candidate against Ramesh (then with the Congress) in the Gokak constituency, but lost. This was Bhimshi’s last electoral test and he has been politically inactive since then. In the same election, Balachandra won from Arabhavi on the JD(S) ticket. Lakhan made his electoral debut as the Congress candidate against Ramesh (now with BJP) in the December 2019 bypolls, and lost.

Belagavi is also home to the Kattis, the Pattans, the Koujalagis, the Hukkeris and the Jolles. However, it is said that no one can flourish politically in the district without the patronage of the Jarkiholi family. Belagavi is a politically-significant district with 18 Assembly constituencies.

Read: Man attempts self-immolation over Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi's resignation

While in the Congress, Ramesh developed a bitter animosity with D K Shivakumar, which many believe made him rebel and help the BJP come to power.

During his onboarding, it was said that the BJP offered to make him deputy chief minister. In the BJP too, Ramesh is said to have made enemies, especially after he started lobbying for C P Yogeeshwar to be made a minister, causing heartburn among fellow partymen.

When he was with the Congress, Ramesh was known to be loyal to former chief minister Siddaramaiah. In one of the sleazy tapes purportedly involving him, Ramesh is heard saying, “Siddaramaiah is good,” while damning Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.