Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 25: It is gathered that pressure is mounting on Congress leadership within the party for the removal of minister for small scale industries, Ramesh Jarkiholi, after a raid by income tax (IT) department on him unearthed unaccounted wealth running into crores of rupees.

As per information, both the chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G Parameshwar, have taken note of the development with all seriousness. They are assessing the likely damage the reputation of the party might suffer out of this development. The party leadership wants to unseat Jarkiholi before the incident removes some sheen out of the party's standing in the eyes of the public.

While Siddaramaiah has been consulting experts over the steps he needs to take against Jarkiholi, Dr Parameshwar has called for detailed information on IT raid from Jarkiholi. It is said that former minister, Satish Jarkiholi, who happens to be the brother of Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is an influential leader from Belagavi, who was upset with the CM for preferring his brother to himself when forming the ministry, is interested to fill the void if Ramesh is ousted. While it is said that Satish Jarkiholi has been making use of his political acumen to unseat his brother and occupy his place in the state cabinet on the basis of thr IT raid, Ramesh is making all out efforts to see that he is retained in the ministry.

The Jarkiholi brothers, who were once considered to be very intimate and stood sported united face, are at loggerheads over ministership, it is said.

Both Ramesh and Satish Jarkiholi, are expected to meet Siddaramaiah separately on Thursday to hold detailed discussions with him over the recent developments.