No threat to Cong-JDS coalition ministry, says Satish Jarkiholi

Team Udayavani, May 1, 2019, 10:40 AM IST

Bengaluru: Karnataka Forest Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Tuesday said there is no threat to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy led coalition government from his brother and rebel Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has threatened to quit the party along with some legislators.

Pointing out that several attempts have been made in the past to destabilise the government, Satish indicated that Ramesh lacks the numbers.

“I’m sure that there is no threat to the government, they have been trying for about a year now, from day one.

There won’t be any trouble to our party,” Satish said in response to questions from reporters about any problem for the government.

“….Nothing will happen because of one or two or three (MLAs). They will need more numbers (to destabilise the government).

They have already tried several times, they may try in the days to come also, but both parties (Congress and JDS) have the strength to stop it,” he said.

Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been hobnobbing with the BJP for some time now, has threatened to resign from the Congress along with other MLAs en masse, which has caused fear among the ruling coalition leaders as it would trigger the numbers game in the assembly.

This threat by the rebel MLA has come amid speculations about the longevity of the government after the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on May 23.

There are talks within political circles that any adverse results for the coalition in the Lok Sabha polls, which they fought in alliance, despite resentment within among the grass root workers and leaders of both parties, would have its implications on the Kumaraswamy-led government.

However, Ramesh seems to have been deserted in his efforts to mobilise Congress MLAs to resign, as many considered close to him like Shrimant Patil of Kagawad, Mahesh Kumtalli of Athani and B Nagendra of Bellary have pledged loyalty to the party.

Meanwhile, there are also reports about attempts being made by Kumaraswamy himself, along with some senior Congress leaders, to pacify Ramesh.