Political turmoil a closed chapter: Satish

Disgruntled Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi on Tuesday said the political turmoil in the state was a closed chapter, even as his brother - Municipalities Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi - remained firm on his demands.

“It (political turmoil) is a closed chapter. There is no problem now. Chief Minister (H D Kumaraswamy) has promised to resolve all issues raised by us,” Satish told reporters after meeting Kumaraswamy at a private hotel. Ramesh and Bellary MLA B Nagendra were also present in the meeting.

Issues pertaining to transfer and posting of officials, nominations to some government bodies and grants for the development of Belagavi were discussed during the meeting. “The chief minister has responded positively,” he said.

Sources close to Satish said Kumaraswamy had also assured to talk to his Cabinet colleague and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on the demand that he (Shivakumar) should not interfere in Belagavi politics. The Jarkiholi brothers had been demanding that Shivakumar should be kept away from Belagavi. Their grouse is that Congress MLA from Belagavi Rural constituency Laxmi Hebbalkar had been growing in strength with the help of Shivakumar.

Satish said the Congress leaders too had promised to resolve all issues.

"There are certain issues related to Belagavi that need to be resolved," he added.

However, Ramesh Jarkiholi continued to keep the Congress leadership on tenterhooks. While Ramesh remained inaccessible through the day, sources close to him said he was firm on his demands, which include making him deputy chief minister, giving Cabinet berths to his MLA friends and revamping the Belagavi district Congress unit.