Ramesh Jarkiholi rejects CM’s offer, seeks water resources portfolio

Bengaluru: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's efforts to woo former minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is believed to be the rallying point for at least four or five other unhappy MLAs, seems to have reached a dead end as he has reportedly refused the olive branch extended.

Mr Kumaraswamy had in an attempt to defuse the current crisis in the government following its debacle in the Lok Sabha elections, tried to reach out to Mr Jarkiholi along with deputy chief minister, Dr G. Parameshwara through his aide, Mahesh Kumtalli. Going by sources, he promised Mr Jarkiholi a ministerial berth and the energy portfolio, but he turned down the offer and instead demanded the water resources portfolio of minister D.K. Shivakumar. Although Mr Kumtalli told reporters that he met the Chief Minister to discuss issues pertaining to his Athani constituency, it is said he was instrumental in these negotiations with Mr Jarkiholi. The government's troubles only seem to be growing as other “loyal” Congress MLAs like Dr Ajay Singh, V. Muniyappa, and Shivaram Hebbar too have demanded cabinet berths.

Speaking in their constituencies, the legislators said they were loyal soldiers of the party and should be considered for ministerial positions. Dr Singh argued that if the party was considering dissidents for the berths, why should it not consider the loyalists. Hirekerur MLA, B.C. Patil even went so far to warn that if he was not included in the cabinet, the government may not last long, according to sources.