‘Operation Lotus’ will begin from May 29, but we too are ready: Satish Jarkiholi

He reacts to rumours of his brother crossing over to BJP

Satish Jarkiholi.

Forest Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Saturday said the BJP is likely to start ‘Operation Lotus” from May 29, but Congress is ready to counter it.

There have been rumours that his brother and MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, one of the “rebel” legislators, will soon shun Congress and shift to BJP, with his supporters.

Speaking to reporters at Belagavi, Mr. Satish Jarkiholi said, “If they [BJP] try to poach our legislators, we will start a counter [attack].” He added, “The coalition partners Congress and the JD(S) may have had differences in the past, but the medicine given to us by Prime minister Narendra Modi has unified us. Now there is nothing else to do than march ahead,” he said.

Reacting to the rumours that Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi may go to a resort in Goa, along with some MLAs to destabilise the government, Mr. Satish Jarkiholi said it was possible, but it would not disturb the government.

“We tried to convince Ramesh to stay in the Congress, but he did not listen. We offered to make him a Minister two months ago. That also did not work. I feel that he will not change his mind even if he is made the CM. I have told the party that he will try to disrupt the government even if he is made the CM,” he said.

The idea of making Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister is a “closed chapter” now, he said, adding that everyone would have to admit that there is a “Modi wave” in the country and work accordingly.

“Congress has lost in many States. There is no need for anyone to take moral responsibility for the performance in Karnataka,” Mr. Satish Jarkiholi said.

Off to Pune?

Meanwhile, Vivekrao Patil, Congress MLC, said in Belagavi on Saturday that he and a few others were with Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi. “We will follow him wherever he goes,” he said. Claiming to be ignorant of any efforts by the BJP to lure MLAs, he said he was only a loyal follower of Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi and would follow his directions. Mr. Patil said that he was travelling to Pune with Mahesh Kumathahalli, Congress MLA from Athani. He claimed that Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi was also in Pune.