Ramesh Jarkiholi may be backing B L Santosh on Operation Lotus

BENGALURU: Belagavi strongman Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had been lying low for some time, is back in active politics. After a long break, he now seems to be backing BJP national genereal secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh’s plan to counter Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar who are trying to woo back those who had quit the Congress in 2019.

With the buzz around the ‘operation’, Jarkiholi rolled a new dice on the Congress by appreciating the CM and showing sympathy for him, saying that the CM is not being given a free hand as earlier while also speaking against D K Shivakumar.

Jarkiholi alleged that ‘Operation Hasta’ is a diversionary strategy of the Deputy CM. At least 25-30 Congress MLAs had a plan to have a meeting at a private hotel in Bengaluru after writing a letter to the CM, but the Deputy CM prevented them from attending the meeting, Jarkiholi has alleged.

Jarkiholi alleged that Shivakumar was doing a drama of Operation Hasta to cover up the insults to the party and to threaten those who had switched sides. He also taunted Shivakumar regarding the alleged internal conflict in the Congress, thereby targeting two leaders with one stone.

Now, the BJP is drawing up a counter strategy against the Congress and B L Santhosh has already started a political game with Operation Lotus. The strategy may be implemented around the time of the Lok Sabha election. The BJP will be looking to hook Congress legislators with its attacks on the ruling party.