Belagavi/Tumakuru, 18 Dec

‘Like-minded’ ruling Congress legislators in Karnataka met for dinner hosted by senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi at a hotel in Belagavi, amid the ongoing power tussle within the party over the Chief Minister post.

At least 30 legislators attended the dinner hosted by Jarkiholi on Wednesday night. While some described it as a casual dinner meeting, others said political developments in Karnataka were discussed.

Jarkiholi is considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Those present included Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLA KN Rajanna, among others. Siddaramaiah was not present at the dinner as he was unwell, sources said.

The dinner meeting came a week after over 30 Congress legislators, including some ministers, attended a dinner hosted by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on the outskirts of Belagavi.

“There is nothing special about it. Giving a dinner to like-minded people is common. Such meetings keep happening. We too had one yesterday. Not much political discussion took place,” Jarkiholi told reporters here on Thursday.

However, Rajanna, a former minister and Siddaramaiah loyalist, said political matters were discussed during the dinner. “Why would we meet otherwise? Would we meet just for food?”

Yathindra said such meetings are common during legislative sessions. “Recently, Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao invited me, and I attended.”

Seers pitch for Parameshwara as CM

A group of seers from various mutts met on Thursday in Tumakuru to pitch for Home Minister G Parameshwara for the Chief Minister post, amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress.

The meeting was a show of unity from seers representing Lingayat, Vokkaliga, backward and Dalit communities, among others.

“Tumakuru district in-charge Minister Parameshwara should be made the CM. The move will also give the party credit for doing justice to a backward community (as Parameshwara is a Dalit),” Hanumanthanatha Swamiji of Kunchitigara Maha Samsthana Matha, Yelerampura said. “The seers, of Mutts maths, irrespective of caste or any other affiliation, together with one voice, want Parameshwara as CM if such a situation comes… it will also help for the all round development of the district (Tumakuru), whether it is irrigation, Metro, drinking water among other things.”

Parameshwara, who had served as State Congress chief in the past, had last month said that he too was in the race to become the CM.