BJP central leadership "positive" about re-induction of Eshwarappa, Jarkiholi, says CM Bommai
KSE claims CM has assured to make him a minister; yet to take a call on attending Assembly session
Bengaluru/Belagavi, Dec 20: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the BJP's central leadership was "positive" about the re-induction of sulking ex-ministers KS Eshwarappa and Ramesh Jarkiholi in the state cabinet, even as the duo skipping the ongoing Assembly session has embarrassed the ruling party.
The two had earlier resigned as ministers--Eshwarappa over allegations of bribery and Jarkiholi over a sex scandal but the probe agencies investigating into the respective cases had given them clean chits.
Eshwarappa, a former deputy CM and ex-state party President, said Bommai has assured them of cabinet berths soon.
He had resigned as Minister earlier this year after a contractor allegedly committed suicide accusing him of demanding 40 percent commission in a public work contract in 2020.
Stating they have been given "clean chit" by police in those cases, the two leaders had been demanding that they be made ministers again.
Eshwarappa, BJP's Shivamogga MLA and Jarkiholi (Gokak) have been conspicuous by their absence in the Assembly session that commenced on Monday in Belagavi in north Karnataka. Eshwarappa had said he would not attend the Assembly session until he is made a Minister.
On Tuesday, Bommai said he was in touch with Jarkiholi and Eshwarappa.
Their non-participation in the assembly is not boycott. "They are right in their thinking that they must return to the Council of Ministers once they were cleared of all the charges," Bommai told reporters in Belagavi.
During his recent visit to Delhi, the party high command discussed the matter related to Eshwarappa and Jarkiholi, Bommai said.
"They (party leadership) are also positive about their induction but certain things cannot be told in public," the chief minister added.
Meanwhile, Eshwarappa said Bommai has assured them Cabinet berth soon.
"The chief minister has assured me he will speak to the party high command and induct me in the cabinet after I got a clean chit," he told reporters in Bengaluru.
"Not only me but Ramesh Jarkiholi also will be made a minister because he too got a clean chit," Eshwarappa added.
Asked if he would attend the assembly session after the assurance by Bommai, Eshwarappa said, "I will speak to the chief minister in the evening before taking any decision".
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Power struggle in ruling Cong has 'created massive confusion' in Karnataka: BJP leader Ashoka
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday claimed that the ongoing power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar has created massive confusion in Karnataka.
He remarked that the proverb “when two people fight, the third one benefits” has come true, as AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is also now making efforts to become Chief Minister.
Speaking to reporters here, Ashoka said the entire government has turned into a house of confusion due to the alleged power tussle.
Kharge’s new statement has only added to the chaos, he said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had on Friday said that no date has been fixed yet to discuss possible leadership change in Karnataka.
This came a day after Kharge said there was no change of CM in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state would be resolved soon.
The BJP leader said that Kharge too has aspirations and that he was cheated earlier.
"Perhaps he has received a green signal from the Congress high command to become CM. Everyone is already saying Kharge should become CM. Kharge himself has declared, “I am ready to become CM.” Despite many attempts in the past, he never became CM. Now he is trying to seize the opportunity," the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly said.
According to him, the situation in Congress has perfectly become a case of “two people fighting, third one benefits.”
