Satish Jarkiholi has all qualities to be Chief Minister, says M.B. Patil
clarifies CM post not vacant
Bengaluru: Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil has said that Satish Jarkiholi possesses all the qualities required to become Chief Minister of Karnataka but clarified that the Chief Minister’s post is not vacant at present.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Patil said he was unaware of the context behind Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s recent statement about Jarkiholi but stressed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership continues to be essential for the Congress.
“This may be the last election for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, but his leadership will continue to be needed in the future,” Patil said.
He added that the Congress cannot go into the next assembly election without Siddaramaiah leading the party. “Satish Jarkiholi is one of our senior leaders. In our party, decisions are not made by individuals like D.K. Shivakumar, M.B. Patil, or Satish Jarkiholi alone — the final decision rests with the party high command,” he stated.
Patil further said that no one can self-declare as Chief Minister. “Consensus among MLAs and the people’s confidence are essential. There are many capable and deserving leaders in Karnataka, but the high command will take the final call,” he noted.
When asked about a possible cabinet reshuffle, Patil said the decision too lies with the party leadership. “Our AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is based in Sadashivanagar, so the high command’s presence is strong in Bengaluru. Allocation of portfolios is the Chief Minister’s prerogative — we can express our preferences, but we cannot demand specific ministries,” he added.
Earlier this week, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a Member of the Legislative Council, sparked internal debate in the Congress after stating that his father was in the final phase of his political career and that Karnataka now needed a leader with a “progressive and ideological vision.”
Speaking at an event in Belagavi, Yathindra had said that Satish Jarkiholi embodied those qualities and was capable of leading the state with integrity and conviction, a remark widely seen as an indirect endorsement of Jarkiholi as a potential future Chief Minister.
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Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa was laid to rest with full state honours on Monday.
The 94-year-old former minister, who passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday, was cremated at the Kalleshwara Mill premises, following Veerashaiva-Lingayat traditions.
Earlier in the day, Shivashankarappa's mortal remains were brought to his native Davanagere, where they were kept at the high school grounds for the public, his followers, and well-wishers to pay their last respects.
ALSO READ: Karnataka Speaker U T Khader condoles death of Shamanur Shivashankarappa
Expressing deep sorrow over his demise, the Karnataka government ordered that his last rites be performed with full state honours.
Both the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council also mourned his passing, adjourning their sessions for the day after paying tributes.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, several ministers, opposition leaders, legislators, and political figures paid their respects.
A number of seers from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community also attended the last rites.
Shivashankarappa represented the Davanagere South Assembly constituency. He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for some time before succumbing to age-related ailments.
The senior-most legislator in Karnataka, Shivashankarappa, was also one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the country, sources said.
He is survived by three sons, including S S Mallikarjun, the Karnataka Minister for Mines, Geology, and Horticulture, and four daughters. His daughter-in-law, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the Member of Parliament from Davanagere.
A six-time MLA, Shivashankarappa also served as a minister and an MP.
He was a prominent educationist, establishing several educational institutions, and was an industrialist.
Additionally, he served as the treasurer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for decades and was the president of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the apex body of the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
