Beleagavi: BJP was given a humiliating defeat in the legislative council poll in the constituency of the BELOGIVI-Chikkodi, a chair that had become his fort for two decades.
The ruling party has hoped to win hands in the BELOGIVAs and secure a simple majority in the legislative council.
But the Gokak BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi decision to encourage Brother Lakhan in Keruaran because an independent man proves the proverbial spanner in the works, because it encourages BJP candidate Mangan Kavatagimatmath to third place – behind Channaraj Hattiholi from Congress and Lakhan.
Beleagavi-chikkodi is a dualseat constituency.
Lakhan, the youngest of Siblings Jarkiholi, has been contested as a rebel BJP candidate in an effort to ensure Hattiholi’s defeat, Brother Laxmi Hebbalcar, Beleagavi Rural Mla.
Jarkiholis has a feud to run with Hebbalkar.
Ramesh and Brother Balchandra Jarkiholi, Arabhavi MLA, have led the campaign for BJP and Lakhan.
They steadily refused to pay attention to the request from BJP to attract Lakhan.
Now, Jarkiholis’s plan has become a boomerang.
Eranna Kadadi, Rajya Sabha BJP MP admitted that the defeat was a big setback for a party.
“Lakhan’s Candidature confused voters and Jarkiholis and Hebbalkars played the caste card and divided BJP’s voice,” Kadadi said.
“Lingayats, which are supporters of BJP Hardcore, choose Hattiholi, while voters from the Valmiki Community (ST) choose Lakhan, eating into BJP’s voice.” The results can equate the prospect of Ramesh to return to the cabinet.
He has tried hard to secure a minister’s bed since he resigned as Minister of Water Resources after a sex work scandal.
Ramesh and Balchandra’s failure will reduce their influence not only at the party but also in the Biasavav, the source at BJP said.
The source also said the defeat of Kavatagimath called for introspection for the party district units.
When BJP is looking for a majority in the Board, the loss will be seen as a failure of the district unit to gift support from members of the Gram Panchayat, which mostly wins with the support of the Safron Party.