Politics not discussed at dinner meeting with CM, cabinet colleagues: Satish Jarkiholi

As we entered into the new year, it was decided to hold a get-together wherein all of us could meet and hold discussions. As speculated, politics was not discussed, but we held talks on governance and to retain power in the 2028 assembly election, Jarkiholi said.

Belagavi: Public Works Department and District Incharge Minister Satish Jarkiholi said that the dinner meeting at his Bengaluru residence attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other cabinet colleagues discussed issues like improving governance to ensure that Congress retains power in the 2028 assembly election.

Reported issues like cabinet reshuffle and KPCC presidents post were not discussed as they are to be decided by the high command.

Jarkiholi told reporters here on Friday that the dinner meeting was fixed after the cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening. Such dinner meetings have been held about 10 times at my residence and I too have attended them at the chief minister's residence. There was no need to give political significance to it as some of the cabinet colleagues could not make it due to them being on tour and other reasons.

As we entered into the new year, it was decided to hold a get-together wherein all of us could meet and hold discussions. People from different walks of like too hold get-togethers and we as ministers held it as well. As speculated politics was not discussed, but we held talks on governance and to retain power in the 2028 assembly election, he said.

Replying to a query about one person, one post, he said, it was announced during the AICC session held in Udaipur in Rajasthan, but in many states, there were persons who have been holding more than one post. Sometimes such situations arise and some arecapable of discharging responsibilities of both the posts. Party will decide on the KPCC president's post.

To another query on being an aspirant for the post of chief minister after the 2028 assembly election, and eyeing the KPCC president's post to strengthen his claim, Jarkiholi said, the high command will decide on reorganisation of the party in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as KPCC president had been visiting the different sites wherein programmes were organised for ‘Gandhi Bharat’ to mark centenary of Mahatma Gandhi presiding over the Congress Session held here in 1924.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil had also been moving around as the organising committee chairman, but the presence of the KPCC president was felt with him leading the events. I, and other leaders from the district had been delegated other responsibilities, hence the issue of Shivakumar hijacking the events does not arise, he stated.

High command will decide on the inclusion of ministers and to drop sitting ministers. The Chief Minister and KPCC president will take up the issue with the high command if needed. As of now, there were no such developments, he said.