Senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi, who is upset over not being made a Minister, has decided to seek relief from his party responsibilities by resigning from the post of All India Congress Committee secretary.
He has, however, not yet decided on quitting his membership of the Assembly. He won from the Yamakanamaradi seat that he has represented for 10 years, with a slender margin of 2,850 votes.
He told reporters at Sambra airport here that he would resign from the AICC post in two days.
“When I’m not able to become a Minister and when I’m not powerful enough to help my followers become Ministers, what is the use of being an AICC secretary?” he said.
“There are many leaders in Karnataka who have the potential to become the Chief Minister. I’m one among them. Vested interests in the party have kept us out of the Cabinet to make sure that we don’t grow. I’m a leader with enough influence to make other MLAs Ministers. But if I myself don’t become a Minister, what does it mean? It has affected my self-esteem,” he said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointed him AICC secretary in charge of Telangana after his elder brother, Ramesh Jarkiholi, replaced him in the erstwhile Siddaramaiah Cabinet two years ago. Mr. Satish Jarkiholi seemed to have reluctantly accepted the post and made a few trips to Telangana on party work. He was, however, actively involved in the campaign of Mr. Siddaramaiah in Badami.
Mr. Satish Jarkiholi also said he would reveal the names of the leaders who had lobbied against him in two days.