Karnataka Water Resources minister Ramesh Jarkiholi got into a controversy on Tuesday as a CD emerged on Tuesday showing him in a compromising position with a woman. It was released by social activist Dinesh Kalahalli who said the woman was promised a government job by the minister at Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited. He added that the woman sought his help last week. He met the police commissioner on Tuesday and lodged a complaint with the Cubbon Park police in Bengaluru.

Dinesh Kalahalli, president of the Nagarika Hakku Horata Samithi in his complaint said the woman belongs to a poor family and had approached the minister for making a film. However, the minister exploited her by offering a job  in the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited. He said when he minister got to know that the woman was in possession of the CD, he started to threaten her. He has urged the police to launch an investigation into the matter, file a criminal complaint against Jarkiholi and provide protection to the victim.

Meanwhile, the minister has claimed that the video is fake. Alleging political conspiracy, he said he was ready for an enquiry and that the culprits should be punished.

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Meanwhile, Union minister Prahlad Joshi has said there should be verification of the video before the conclusions are drawn. Bengaluru Central DCP Anucheth has said the complaint has been filed and there will be an enquiry into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Congress workers have taken to streets to protest against the minister. Jarkiholi is one of the e 17 MLAs who had switched over from the Congress and JD(S) in 2020 to help the BJP come to power in Karnataka.

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The shaky coalition government in Karnataka suffered a setback today (Monday, July 1) with two Congress MLAs resigning from the state assembly.

Congress MLA from Vijayanagar, Anand Singh and Ramesh Jarkiholi from Gokak in Belagavi district submitted their resignation letters.

“Yes. I have resigned. Today morning, I submitted the resignation,” Singh was quoted as saying by PTI. The MLA refused to disclose the reason behind his step. He met the Governor Vajubhai Vala to inform him about his decision and submitted his resignation letter.

Hours later, Jarkiholi stepped down and submitted his regination letter to the Assembly Speaker.

The BJP in Karnataka was watching the situation and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa hinted at exploring possibilities of forming a government if the Congress-JD(S) coalition government falls before completing its term.

“Even I have heard about his (Anand Singh’s) resignation through media. We don’t want to destabilise the government… If the government falls on own its own, we will explore the possibilities of forming the new government but there is no question of fresh elections,” Yeddyurappa was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Reports of Singh’s resignations have triggered speculations of BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ being back in the fray ahead of the legislature session which is scheduled from July 12.

‘Operation Lotus’ refers to the BJP’s strategy during Yeddyurappa’s previous tenure as the chief minister when it made several MLAs of other parties to resign and contest the elections on the party’s ticket and win to strengthen its numbers in the assembly.

It is speculated that Anand Singh would join the BJP now. He had recently held a press conference in Ballari against the sale of 3,667 acres of land to JSW Steel in which he had hinted that he would step down.

When told that Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was yet to confirm his resignation, Singh reportedly said, “Is it so? Then I will resign again.”

The speaker, however, denied having received any resignation. “I have not received any resignation. Nobody had approached me to give me any resignation,” he said, according to The Indian Express (IE).

Taking to Twitter, JD(S) leader and Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who is presently in the US, said he was aware of the political developments in the state.

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“The foundation laying of Kalabhairaveshwara Temple is going on at New Jersey under the aegis of Swamiji. I am watching all the developments from here. BJP is daydreaming to destabilise the government,” he tweeted.

Reports were rife that at least six more MLAs from Congress would also rebel against their party.

“Anand Singh resignation is shocking to me… I spoke to the Chief Minister. There is no problem in the coalition government,” senior Karnataka Congress leader and minister DK Shivakumar said.

Anand Singh was hospitalised in January this year after he was allegedly thrashed and abused by another lawmaker during their stay at a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru where Congress legislators had been taken for safe-keeping. It was said that Singh had been involved in dissident activity but that he was convinced to stay with the party at that time.

The Congress has been fighting dissidence since the beginning of the year, with several Congress legislators openly critical of the party and staying away from legislature party meets that had been called.

One of the leaders, Umesh Jadhav, quit the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha election and won the Kalaburagi seat for the BJP, defeating Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge. Another senior Congress legislator, Roshan Baig, was suspended from the party last month for his open and strong criticism of senior party colleagues.

Two independents were taken into the cabinet last month in a bid to give some sense of stability to the coalition.

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