Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 13: Ramesh Jarkiholi, who led four dissident MLAs who were holed up in Mumbai and planning to preempt the fall of the state government by joining hands with the BJP, and K R Pet MLA, Narayana Gowda, who it was claimed, had been kept in confinement by the BJP, came back to the city. They reached the airport here at midnight on Tuesday.

JD(S) MLA, Narayana Gowda, was the first to reach the airport. He was received by minster, Sa Ra Mahesh, and MLA, Shivalinge Gowda.

Ramesh Jarkiholi

Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has serious grouse against the party leaders, reached the airport later. He refused to speak to the media persons. It is learnt that the other three disgruntled Congress legislators and two independent MLAs too have come back to the city.

Narayana Gowda, speaking to media persons on his arrival from Mumbai, dismissed the notion that he had fallen prey to BJP's Operation Lotus. He said that there is no question of his migrating to BJP. Referring to his abduction rumour, he questioned whether the media people think any of the BJP leaders have the courage to touch him. I was admitted into a Mumbai hospital because of ill health. I have no complaints. "I was in touch with the chief minister and Sa Ra Mahesh," he clarified.

Mahesh said that all the legislators who were in Mumbai have reached the capital city and that he was yet to establish contact with all of them.   He said that his party has brought back MLA, Narayana Gowda, adding that Gowda had already spoken to the chief minister the previous day. He said that Gowda would be meeting the chief minister on Wednesday morning.