From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 15: Even as the Basavaraj Bommai regime is smarting at the defeat of the ruling BJP’s Government Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Mahantesh Kavatagimath from Belagavi and the victory of independent candidate Lakhan Jarkiholi, the latter’s elder brother and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi has called off his press conference to reveal ‘incriminating details’ against State Congress President D K Shivakumar in Belagavi.

Ramesh Jarkiholi had announced in Gokak on Tuesday that he would be addressing a press conference to reveal incriminating details against Shivakumar. But he informed media that he would not speak anything about any opposition leader, following instructions from the party.

“Just as I was getting ready for the press conference, I got a call from a senior leader of the BJP. He is among the top leaders of the party in the state. He directed me not to speak against anyone, and I will follow those orders,’’ he said.

Jarakiholi said: “I was, otherwise, going to give all incriminating details about D K Shivakumar. I was planning to speak openly about all I know about him. But I am constrained to remain silent.’’

He refused to identify the senior BJP leader, who advised him not to speak at the press conference.

‘Siddaramaiah is waste body’

He lashed out at Siddaramaiah, Congress leader of the opposition and sarcastically commented: “Siddaramaiah is a waste body. He is afraid of his political future. He is insecure about my growth. He thinks that I will grow as a backward class leader and unseat him. He is a loser. He is looking for constituencies other than his own. I will not comment on persons who are falling head down into a political ditch,’’ Jarkiholi added.

He said he was not happy with the Congress winning the Belagavi seat and mentioned: “We wanted to defeat the Congress. But that did not happen. What to do? Whatever I have to say, I will say that in the party meeting.’’

“However, I knew this would happen. The reason for this is a particular development that happened a few days before polling. There was some political development in the district four days before polling. That changed everything. I will discuss about this within the party, before revealing it to the public,’’ he said. He promised to address the media again, in a few days.

‘Mountain can bear weight’

Asked about why he was being targeted for the party’s failure and not the 12 other BJP MLAs and three Lok Sabha members and a Rajya Sabha member from Belagavi, he said that he was not bothered about it.

“I welcome it as only strong leaders are blamed. Only a mountain can bear the burden of enormous weight. I think they are blaming me as I am a powerful leader,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Basavaraj Bommai who returned from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s good governance summit of Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states in Varanasi, said the party would not rush to conclusions about which leader to blame for the poor performance in some seats.

“Whether it is Belagavi or Mysuru, we will not take action against any leader hastily. The party is watching all developments and will take the right decisions at the right time,’’ he said answering a question on whether the party would take action against Ramesh Jarkiholi for the Belagavi debacle.