Bengaluru : With Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai assuring disgruntled Tourism Minister Anand Singh of taking up the portfolio change issue with senior leaders, the focus is all set to shift to Delhi.
After a two-hour meeting with Mr Singh on Wednesday evening, Mr Bommai along with three other BJP leaders including Minister R Ashok and MLA Raju Gowda, was able to pacify Singh after assuring him to take up portfolio change matters with senior leaders.
Mr Singh has been nursing disappointment over the tourism portfolio allocated to him by Bommai and reportedly is desiring for, either energy or public works portfolios.
After fruitless talks with Bommai and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, an upset Singh hinted at resigning as Tourism Minister yesterday at Vijayanagara city after performing a Maha puja at Venugopalakrishna temple built by his grandparents.
He said he has left the decision in the hands of Lord Krishna about his political future.
Singh’s maha puja has significance because it was after performing it, he had resigned as Congress legislator, which had resulted in a flurry of MLAs belonging to JDS and Congress resigning from their assembly membership to join BJP and help Yediyurappa win trust vote in the assembly and form government led by the saffron party.
Delhi focus
Amidst this, Bommai is soon visiting Delhi to hold talks with Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Mekedatu and other irrigation projects, including Upper Krishna project concerning the state.
After Bommai assuring Singh to take up his case with senior leaders, it is expected from him to also discuss the issue and the rising dissident activities of those, who could not make it into the cabinet.
Former water resources minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and his close associate CP Yogeshwara are reportedly camping in Delhi. They are making efforts to meet the BJP top brass.
Yogeshwara, who was in Yediyurappa’s cabinet, is unhappy for being left out. Though the Jarkiholi brothers enjoy a close contact with the BJP top brass, this time they have not been able to get a ministerial berth, either for Ramesh or Bhalachandra Jarkiholi.
Ramesh has been singled out by the state and central BJP leaders following the alleged sex CD scandal involving him. He, however, wants the BJP to induct Bhalachandra in the cabinet until he gets a clean chit in the case. The total neglect of the Jarkiholi family has disturbed Ramesh.
While Ramesh and Yoheshwara are camping in Delhi, the noise of disgruntled ministerial aspirants are also being heard from different parts of the state.
Former minister SA Ramdas was conspicuous by his absence at Bommai’s programmes in Mysuru on August 9.
He was absent at Chamundi Hills and did not attend the review meeting on COVID-19 situation in Mysuru district chaired by Bommai.
He also said that he will write to Bommai shortly, but did not reveal the contents of the letter, which he will personally deliver to the chief minister in a sealed cover.
Ramdas last week had also expressed disappointment over his non-inclusion with a sarcastic tweet.
Taking to the microblogging website, he said, “Congrats to the new ministers, who have built, developed the party and qualified for the post. I hope and believe you strive in making Karnataka no. 1 state in the country. May Maa Chamundeshwari bless you all.”
Apart from Ramdas, MLAs Abhay Patil, M P Renukacharya, Arvind Bellad, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and Umesh Kumathalli are among those said to be displeased for getting an entry into the cabinet.
UNI
