Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 21: Former minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was lying low since sometime after suffering loss of face caused by his close ones who had pledged solidarity with him in his revolt against party leaders, and then retracted their steps when confronted by party leaders, seems to have regained his past vigour again, after the post-poll predictions gave thumbs up for NDA's thumping victory in Lok Sabha election.

Ramesh Jarkiholi arrived at Bengaluru on Monday May 20 and tried to contact those who are deemed to be his close associates, it is learnt. Jarkiholi, it is said, has promised the BJP leaders that at least four to five Congress legislators loyal to him will desert the party by resigning en masse as soon as the Lok Sabha election result is published on May 23. This is one of the facts on which BJP is highly reliant in keeping its hopes of staging a coup and toppling the current government alive.

Sources close to Jarkiholi said that he has begun efforts to hold discussions with Athani MLA, Mahesh Kumthalli, Ballari rural MLA, B Nagendra, Hirekeroor MLA, B C Patil, and Maski legislator, Pratap Gowda Patil, who are close to him, in a bid to convince them to leave the Congress.

There was also information that Jarkiholi had made an effort to meet BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa, at a secluded destination. It is said that he will be holding discussions with Yeddyurappa after the poll result is announced, before travelling to New Delhi to meet the BJP high command.