Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Sep 1: The president post of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which was a prestige issue for all the three leading political parties, was bagged by Arabhavi MLA of BJP Balachandra Jarkiholi. He got the benefit of the fight between the leaders of Congress and JD (S) and was elected unanimously.

KMF directors were taken to a resort and kept away from the contacts of others. There was fierce competition between former minister H D Revanna and Balachandra Jarkiholi for the position of KMF president. Eleven directors of KMF, who were in support of Balachandra Jarkiholi, were taken to unknown hiding place and kept away from the others for three days. All the eleven directors were brought to the KMF office just half an hour before the election in a mini bus.

The directors, who were in favour of Congress and JD (S), expressed their support to BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi. Former minister A Manju welcomed all the directors, which was quite unexpected.

Immediately after assuming the president post of KMF, Balachandra Jarkiholi declared that he will conduct an inquiry against the former president as he has heard accusations of irregularities in the business of KMF.

Balachandra Jarkiholi, who was unhappy over the missing of minister berth in the Yediyurappa government was eyeing the president post of KMF, which is as powerful as that of a minister. Accordingly he was nominated by the state government and now successfully became the president of KMF.

During the tenure of the coalition government, fierce competition took place between Congress and JD (S) for the president position of KMF. Former minister H D Revanna had denied giving the president post to Congress aspirant Bheema Naik. So the position was a bone of contest between both the parties.

As former minister Revanna took back his nomination in the election of KMF that was held on Saturday, Balachandra Jarkiholi was elected unanimously. Out of the 18 member board of KMF, 15 were present on Saturday. Three, including H D Revanna were absent.

Speaking to the press after assuming the position of president, Balachandra Jarkiholi said, "I was not an aspirant for the minister position in the state cabinet. I have come to KMF to serve the farmers. I will ensure that the farmers get the subsidy from the government and I will work for the progress of the farmers. I have the aim of turning KMF into an organization having a profit of Rs 300 crore, which is Rs 130 crore at present. I will put all my efforts to make KMF, the number one milk federation in the country."

Balachandra Jarkiholi denied any increase in the price of milk. He will formally assume the position of president on September 2. He also said that he will work especially for the progress of the farmers of north Karnataka region.

In the midst of this unexpected development, former minister A Manju said that he is the one, who made the counter plan to postpone the election of KMF president to foil the attempt of H D Revanna to become the president of KMF and also hijacked the directors of the Congress party.

Speaking to the reporters in the KMF office, Manju said, "KMF, which had become the property of one family, has now got someone, who will work sincerely for the farmers. I am the kingpin of this happening. I have not done this for my personal gain but have done with the intention of giving benefit to the farmers, as KMF is an organization of the farmers. If the Chikkamagalur milk federation is separated from the Hassan milk federation, the farmers of Chikkamagalur will have more convenience."

Former minister and JD (S) leader H D Revanna, in his defense of the whole episode, said, "I distanced myself from the position of the president of KMF with a view of the change of guard in the state political scene and helped Balachandra Jarkiholi to get elected unanimously. CM Yediyurappa did not want me to be the president of KMF at any cost. If I assume the position of president in these conditions, then it will create problems for the producers of milk. Also I did not want the Valmiki community people to think that I did not allow one of their community members from becoming the president of KMF."