Belgaum: With former minister and now member of parliament, Prakash Hukkeri’s exit from the state cabinet, several senior Congress legislators from Belgaum like Kittur MLA, D B Inamdar, Ramdurg MLA, Ashok Pattan and Gokak MLA, Ramesh Jarkiholi,a re lobbying hard to take his place.
According to sources, the Congress could accommodate either Mr Inamdar or Mr Pattan, but is unlikely to consider two legislators from the Jarkiholi family for a ministerial position. His supporters however contend that Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi deserves to be considered as he played a key role in getting the party votes during the recent Lok Sabha elections and the assembly byelections from Gokak and Arbhavi. The party must reward those who contribute to its victory in elections and help build it at the grassroots, they argue.
But despite such pressure, the Congress reportedly wants another Lingayat legislator from Belgaum to replace Mr Prakash Hukkeri in the cabinet.
Mr Inamdar’s supporters believe he fits the bill as he is an experienced politician and a Lingayat. Congress leader ,Shivangouda Patil says the party could prefer Mr Inamdar to Mr Pattan if experience is the yardstick.
But Mr Pattan is supposed to have the backing of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and also the support of several prominent local leaders. Should the party go by the Chief Minister’s choice, Mr Pattan could make it to the cabinet, say sources.
However, local leaders are not content with having just one more minister from Belgaum in the government as in the past at least three from the district have found a place in state cabinets. When Mr Siddaramaiah took over as Chief Minister, he only included Yamkanmardi MLA, Satish Jarkiholi and Mr Prakash Hukkeri in the cabinet and ignored Mr Inamdar, a five-time MLA and a minister in previous Congress governments, they note.
