Kumaraswamy tries to pacify Jarkiholi brothers

Amid rumblings in the coalition government, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday met the disgruntled Jarkiholi brothers and asked them not to take any hasty decision.

Kumaraswamy’s meeting with the brothers - Municipalities Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and MLA Satish Jarkiholi - came a day after they threatened the Congress top brass over quitting the party if their demands are not fulfilled.

The brothers’ demands include a deputy chief minister post, Cabinet berths to some of their MLA friends and preventing Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar from interfering in Belagavi politics.

It is speculated that the brothers are in touch with the state BJP, which is hoping that the crisis in the Congress would turn to its advantage. The saffron party is said to be ready to stake the claim to form the government if the Jarkiholi brothers quit the party along with some MLAs.

Sources close to the chief minister said that he has assured the Jarkiholi brothers over fulfilling all their demands pertaining to the development of Belagavi. The brothers are demanding that the government should provide sufficient funds to their constituencies and transfer officials of their choice in the district.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the chief minister, Satish said there are many issues that need to be resolved. Kumaraswamy has assured to look into all the demands.

He, however, refused to divulge the demands he has put forth. “The Congress leaders, too, have assured to resolve issues. There are certain issues related to Belagavi that need to be resolved. We don’t want them to recur,” he stated.

Satish denied reports that he was planning to take the MLAs with him to a resort. The Yamkanamaradi MLA also said that he has demanded the post of deputy chief minister.