Belagavi: His vision is ambitious, matched only by his style of travel. Wealthy businessman- turned- politician, Satish Jarkiholi from Gokak, admits to nursing ambitions of becoming CM over the next decade, and as if to give flight to his dreams used his private chopper to get from Belagavi to Hangal to attend an event on Tuesday.
Although the JD(S) claims the AICC general secretary is poised to jump ship and join it, he himself denies he is planning to leave the Congress and speaks of his long term ambitions within the party. “I want to become CM after the next two assembly elections. Over the next few weeks, I will tour the state to build the party and make it stronger ahead of the elections,'' he declared, denying that he was joining JD(S). A few days ago he bought a chopper from Bell and flew in it for the first time from Belagavi to Hangal on Tuesday. He is expected to get a bigger helicopter shortly.
A rich industrialist and businessman from Gokak, Satish rented a chopper for three months during the last assembly elections and campaigned along with CM Siddaramaiah, who was then his close friend. On his friends' suggestion that he should have his own chopper to avoid wasting time in travelling and cars, he decided to buy two of them. The bigger one is expected to arrive shortly.
The most popular politician from Belagavi region, Mr Jarkiholi has been low key ever since he was expelled from the state cabinet a year ago. But on Tuesday he grumbled that although he had been striving to build the party, efforts were on to deprive his deserving associates of party tickets.
