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Congress dissidence: Jarkiholi eyes getting his men into cabinet

Last Updated 21 September 2018, 12:30 IST

AICC Secretary Satish Jarkiholi, who is peeved over not being made a minister, today said he would not accept any offer from his party leaders but would fight for ministerial berths for able loyal Congress leaders. "I will not accept any offer. I will work for the party as a legislator. I do not have a single-point programme of becoming a minister. Even in the past, I have worked, not in the garb of minister," Jarkiholi told PTI.

The Karnataka cabinet expansion had caused heartburns to both Congress and JD (S) MLA's who did not find a berth.

Jarkiholi, who was a ministerial aspirant but was deprived of a slot, also said he would not quit the party.

"I will not quit the party but will fight from within. I want our men, who are able Congress leaders loyal to the party for many years, to get ministerial berths," he said.

Asked why he shouldn't be getting a ministerial berth after working for former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's electoral victory in Badami, Jarkiholi said, "That is correct, but nothing can be done about it. Party is not interested, so what we can do." The statement comes after state leader M B Patil, another disgruntled MLA, held inconclusive talks with Congress President Rahul Gandhi on the issue in New Delhi on Saturday. After the meeting, Patil had said he had no plans to quit Congress and was not keen on accepting KPCC President's post.

Patil, who had campaigned for a minority status for Lingayats, is a prominent state Congress leader. Under his leadership, a section of dissatisfied legislators have held several meetings last week.

Asked whom he would be pushing for ministerial berths, Jarkiholi said, "I cannot respond to this immediately. Let us see whether they would do it after two or three years. They have not told us clearly on this line. They could accommodate in next phase. They can also do it now. We are waiting." Jarkiholi said the criteria adopted by the party to allot berths to MLAs is still a mystery for him.

The JDS-Congress cabinet was expanded on June 6 with the induction of 25 new ministers. The Congress has left six vacancies to be filled under its quota and the JDS, one. Several state leaders including Patil, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Ramalinga Reddy, R Roshan Baig, HK Patil, Tanvir Sait, Shamanur Sivashankarappa and, Satish Jarkhiholi, did not get ministerial berths.

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(Published 11 June 2018, 11:10 IST)

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