The ruling BJP seems to be heading for another bout of dissidence with municipal administration minister Balachandra Jarkiholi demanding an immediate reshuffle of portfolios by senior central leaders of BJP and Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, on Thursday.
Speaking at a party meeting at Gokak, Mr Jarkiholi who has already expressed his dissent on the delay in recasting ministries by staying away from several major meetings and programmes attended by Mr Shettar, said “the leaders of our party who promised minister Govind Karjol and me about allotting other departments soon after the legislature session, are yet to keep their word. Without any further delay, our party leaders should allot new ministries to legislators.” He charged that several top leaders, including state unit president K S Eshwarappa, had assured that Mr Karjol and he (Mr Jarkiholi) would be given important portfolios when Mr Shettar assumed charge as the Chief Minister. The minister said it was high time the party leaders realized the delay in reallocation of portfolios and keep their promise, he added.
Speaking to media persons later, Mr Jarkiholi said he had already informed senior leaders of the party that Mr Govind Karjol should head the department of minor irrigation besides rural development and panchayat raj. The leaders should clarify as to why some ministers were given three to four portfolios each while some others were given insignificant portfolios.
The minister said though some leaders were demanding that they be allowed to head the state unit, the party should either appoint Mr Govind Karjol or Dharwad Member of Parliament Pralhad Joshi as president of the state unit as both belong to the north Karnataka region. He said he was forced to speak to the media about these issues though Mr Shettar had instructed legislators not to make statements in public about problems in the party and ministry.