'Minister Jarkiholi mentally away from government'

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary has said that Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has been kept away from the Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition government. Those in the Cabinet mentally away from the government naturally have sympathy towards the Opposition, he said.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Poojary said he will not predict that Jarkiholi will join BJP. “But I expect him to quit the Congress party,” he added.

Reacting to a statement by Congress leader and MLA Satish Jarkiholi that seven to eight Congress MLAs are inclined to join BJP, he said it is true. They will join BJP, if the party can form the government under the leadership of B S Yeddyurappa, he said.

The Congress-JD(S) coalition government has not taken off. Hence, its performance cannot be evaluated. Marks, if given to the government, will indicate that the teachers are poor. Ministers are not coming out of Vidhana Soudha. Some district in-charge ministers are confined to their Assembly constituencies and are not responding to people’s grievances, he said.

Poojary said the chief minister and the ministers are not discharging their duties and Congress is not allowing the chief minister to work. After the winter session of the state legislature, the coalition government will survive but on what basis, it needs to be seen, he said. The BJP will target the coalition government both inside and outside the legislature on farmers’ issues, he stated.