Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 4: With the resignation of Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had played a lead role in toppling the previous government and enabling the BJP to wrest power in Karnataka, from the ministry, the original, loyal BJP activists seem to have gained some advance. These people were angry at the eminence some of the migrant leaders had gained. Many leaders who have been sidelined in order to accommodate the migrants and who are frustrated over the meteoric rise of some of the migrant ministers, may now try to use this opportunity to limit the influence of the migrants in the light of the elections approaching in five states.

By playing a stellar role in the government formation, and by having direct access to national leadership of the BJP, Ramesh Jarkiholi was growing as a parallel power centre in the BJP. He had shown his clout by getting ministry to C P Yogeshwar and nominating H Vishwanath to legislative council. For a group of ministers which was close to him, this development is a setback. In the meanwhile, there is pressure within to make Ramesh's brother, Balachandra Jarkiholi, a minister till Ramesh comes clean and returns.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working presides and Ramesh's brother, Sathish Jarkiholi, said that it is up to the police to investigate and bring out the truth. He said that the CD is a personal issue pertaining to Ramesh and his family has nothing to do with it. He said that Ramesh should be careful as he has people in his party who dislike him.

The Congress leaders, who held a press conference on Wednesday, demanded judicial inquiry into the incident. Former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, said that he does not want to politicise this issue. Social activist, Dinesh Kallahalli, has said that he has proof about more irregularities involving influential leaders including those in the ministry, which will be brought out in course of time.