Lakhan Jarkiholi has announced that he will stay with the Congress and not join the BJP.
The Gokak leader, the younger brother of district in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, had caused a flutter by saying he would join the BJP to take on his brother and former Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Yamakanamaradi constituency.
But at a Congress workers’ meeting in Gokak on Wednesday, he said he would not join the BJP even if they promised to make him Chief Minister.
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He also announced that he would not contest against his brother. “I will work in Yamakanamaradi and ensure Mr. Satish Jarkiholi’s victory,” he said.
Two weeks ago, his family-owned newspaper carried an article saying he would join the BJP. He later told TV channels in Gokak he would quit the Congress and fight against Mr. Satish Jarkiholi. His joining the BJP was scheduled during party president Amit Shah’s visit to Belagavi in the first week of April. But Mr. Shah’s tour was put off and Mr. Lakhan Jarkiholi, before the U-turn on Wednesday, announced he would join the BJP in Bengaluru later this week.