The Jarkiholi brothers, who had been giving sleepless nights to the Congress leaders by threatening to raise a banner of revolt, appear to have once again developed a rift between themselves.
While Municipalities Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi is firm on his decision to quit the party if his demands are not fulfilled, his younger brother and Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi is against dragging the issue too much, lest it turns out to be advantageous to the Opposition BJP.
READ MORE: (DH Exclusive) ‘If D K Shivakumar is kept away from Belagavi, all will be fine’
The warring brothers, who are locked in a turf war with Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar, have been mounting pressure on the Congress by threatening to quit the party (along with a few MLAs) if their demands are not met.
Ramesh had been demanding among others a deputy chief minister post for himself and Cabinet berths to his supporters. Sources in the Congress said that Ramesh is even willing to jump ship to the saffron party, which is said to have offered him the post of deputy chief minister in the event of it forming the next government. He is, in fact, using this as a tool to bargain with the Congress.
READ MORE: Who are the Jarkiholi brothers?
Satish, however, is not in agreement with his brother. Satish is learnt to have told his brother that he is not very comfortable joining the BJP. He is also trying to coax Ramesh to not let his personal differences with Shivakumar affect their political prospects. He is learnt to have told Ramesh that the dramatic political move comes with consequences.
Satish is apprehensive that the brothers will have to start afresh in a brand new party (BJP), where they will be unable to wield power or influence.
The Jarkiholis have become all-powerful in Belagavi district mainly by remaining politically diverse, so as to ensure that power stays within the family.
Of the five brothers - Ramesh, Satish and Lakhan are with the Congress, while Balachandra and Bhimshi are with the BJP. While Ramesh has been a hardcore Congressman, Satish had been associated with the JD(S), before switching over to the Congress.
Ramesh and Satish were at loggerheads till recently. They had differences of opinion over various issues related to Belagavi politics. They, however, came together to prevent the growing influence of Shivakumar in the district.
BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, who is making a last-ditch attempt to ascend to power once again, is hoping that the Jarkiholi brothers would bring down the coalition government, enabling him to stake claim to form the next government.
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