Disqualification of Jarkiholi, Kumathalli changes political equations

Belagavi: The disqualification of two MLAs from Belagavi by speaker K R Ramesh Kumar has triggered new political equations in the district.
Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi’s disqualification, prohibiting him from contesting any election till the term of the present assembly ends is likely to give a way for Lakhan Jarkiholi, the youngest of the five Jarkiholi brothers to enter electoral politics.
Lakhan is a Congress member and is engaged in organizing the party in Gokak. Yanamanakaradi MLA Satish Jarkiholi has already declared that Lakhan would be the Congress candidate from Gokak.
Since Ramesh has been disqualified, BJP may field Ashok Pujari against Lakhan. Pujari had given a tough fight to Ramesh in the 2018 assembly election. It remains to be seen now if Ramesh will support Lakhan or Pujari.
According to Satish, Ramesh and the two other disqualified MLAs are likely to approach the Supreme Court challenging the speaker’s order. Even if the Supreme Court gives them relief, the Congress will appeal it. Therefore, the case is unlikely to be settled soon and the chances of Ramesh contesting the by-elections are very slim.
The disqualification of Athani MLA Mahesh Kumathalli has given a fresh lease of life to the political career of former MLA and BJP leader Laxman Savadi. Savadi feared being side-lined in his party had Kumathalli not been disqualified and contested from Athani as a BJP candidate.
Now, Savadi is sure about getting the BJP ticket but Congress is unsure about having a good and winnable candidate in Athani. Sources say the disqualification is the end of the road for Kumathalli’s political career.