Ramesh Jarkiholi
The Gokak Congress MLA was often described as the ring leader of the dissidents. He belongs to a well known political family with his elder brother, Satish with the Congress party and another brother, Balachandra Jarkiholi, a BJP MLA. Ever since he was dropped from the ministry to accommodate his brother Satish, Ramesh Jarkiholi has been blowing hot and cold and tried to trigger a rebellion in the coalition three or four times but failed. This time, he received support from Congress and JD(S) MLAs from Bengaluru which helped them bring down the Kumaraswamy government. Ramesh did not attend the CLP meeting in February this year during the budget session ignoring the party whip which has cost him dear.
Mahesh Kumtalli
The Athani MLA is considered a loyalist of Ramesh Jarkiholi who helped him during the elections and so it was natural for Mr Kumtalli to follow in the footsteps of his leader and resign from the assembly. Like Mr Jarkiholi, Mr Kumtalli too did not attend the CLP meeting in February this year forcing the Congress to give a petition seeking his disqualification.
R. Shankar
The lone member of Karnataka Prajnavantara Janata Party (KPJP), Mr Shankar is a first-time MLA from Ranebennur and was a minister in the Kumaraswamy government. However, after the Congress and JD(S) MLAs MLAs rebelled, he tendered his resignation and handed over a letter to Governor Vajubhai Vala saying he would support the BJP if that party was invited to form a government. His party had already merged with the Congress and so he attracted the disqualification clause after the Congress submitted a petition seeking action against him.
