Bengaluru: Coming out in defence of Medical Education and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who has been blamed for the latest round of Congress dissidence led by the Jarkiholi brothers, Belagavi Rural Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar said he (Mr Shivakumar) is not someone who would engage in 'petty politics.'
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Ms Hebbalkar said all contentious issues related to her hometown, Belagavi, had not been resolved yet though state Congress leaders were involved in efforts for the past two days to pacify the Jarkiholi brothers, who had raised the banner of revolt after the Belagavi District Primary Land Development Bank (PLD Bank) election row. "I have not held any talks with Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi after the PLD Bank polls. According to me, the problems still persist in our district".
On rumours of her being inducted into the Cabinet, she clarified that she had never adopted 'blackmail' tactics to get into the council of ministers as this was left to the party high command. "If I am destined to become a minister, I may become one," she remarked. It may be mentioned here that the Jarkiholi brothers had targeted Mr Shivakumar for his interference in Belgavi district politics and for 'pampering' Ms Lakshmi Hebbalkar.
