Belagavi poll: Eye on majority, BJP likely to woo Lakhan Jarkiholi

BENGALURU: The BJP on Wednesday indicated it may not take action against the Jarkiholi brothers following the defeat of party candidate Mahantesh Kavatagimath in the Belagavi-Chikkodi legislative council elections.
Lakhan, the youngest Jarkiholi sibling, contested as an independent and bagged one of two seats from the constituency with support from brothers Ramesh and Balchandra, both BJP MLAs. Congress won the other seat.
While BJP improved its tally in the council after the recent elections, the party is still one short of a majority in the upper house. It may woo Lakhan to secure a majority in the 75-member house.
Revenue minister R Ashoka on Wednesday refused to hold Jarkiholis responsible for the defeat in Belagavi, saying “everybody” is responsible”. Ashoka said: “We’ll analyse what went wrong and who did not work for our candidate and only then take a decision.”
Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa said: “The party’s defeat in Belagavi is a shock and we’ll find out the exact reason for it.” Asked if the party will induct Lakhan, he said chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will take that decision.
At a legislature party meeting on Wednesday, BJP MLAs were reportedly divided over initiating action against the Jarkiholi brothers. “Whether it likes it or not, BJP has no option but to seek Lakhan’s support to get the anti-conversion bill passed in the council. The possibility of the party taking any action against Ramesh and Balchandra or not inducting Lakhan into the party if he approaches with a request appears very remote,” one leader said.