Bengaluru: A day after the opposition BJP's Operation Lotus fizzled out with the party falling short of the numbers to topple the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, Congress party managers are facing another formidable task-ensuring that all 80 MLAs of the party turn up at the Congress legislature party (CLP) meeting called on Friday, and the man at the centre of it all, Ramesh Jarkiholi is placated.
Insiders have told Deccan Chronicle that former chief minister Siddaramaiah is camping overnight in Belagavi to ensure that the chief dissident Ramesh Jarkiholi does not upset the Congress apple-cart amid reports that at least two or three dissident Congress MLAs may keep away from the CLP meet called by former CM Siddaramaiah, and that dissidence is far from over, as Mr Jarkiholi is insisting on being given the Home portfolio, which has been entrusted only recently to Mr Siddaramaiah's key aide, Mr.M.B.Patil.
The main reason for the continuing anger stemmed from the failure of the Congress leadership to assure them that their demands would be considered sympathetically.
