Jarkiholi at it now, demands portfolios rejig

After lying low for almost a month, the dissidence in the ruling BJP has raised its head again.

On Wednesday, Municipal Administration Minister Balachandra Jarkiholi served a two-day deadline to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to take up portfolio reallocation and nominations to various state-run boards and corporations.

Jarkiholi, a key player of former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda group has sought to remind Shettar about the commitment made by the party high command about portfolio reallocation at the time of his elevation as the chief minister.

“The portfolio reallocation was one of the key promises made by the party high command to bring us (Gowda camp MLAs) to the legislature party meeting.

We want that promise to be fulfilled,” Jarkiholi said.

Jarkiholi threatened to convene the meeting of MLAs and ministers of his camp on Saturday to decide on the next course of action if Shettar fails to take any decision by then.

Shettar and Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa said that portfolio reallocation would happen soon. But, so far it has not happened due to the lack of consensus on which group should get what portfolio.

While Yeddyurappa group is not willing to part with any of the key ministry Jarkiholi group wants to snatch one or two plum ministries.

Sensing that a full-pledged reshuffle will lead to problems, the party has reportedly advised Shettar to restrict this exercise only to three four portfolios.

He may now take away one portfolio each from Eshwarappa and R Ashok who are now holding two portfolios each.

Eshwarappa may retain Revenue and give away Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Ministry while R Ashok may retain Home Ministry though he is keen to retain Transport also.