Bengaluru: If all goes well, according to permutations and combinations of the Karnataka BJP unit, another Belagavi strongman, Balachandra Jarkiholi will be made as the new Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) president.

According to the BJP, former minister and disqualified legislator from Gokak, Ramesh Jarkiholi (Congress) is all set to join the party.

However, some BJP leaders might question if two members of the same family (brothers Ramesh and Balachandra) get Cabinet berths in the Yediyurappa government. Hence, the party has decided to make Balachandra as the KMF president.

Another reason is that the KMF was always in the clutches of southerns leaders especially in the hands of the JD(S) family. To neutralise JD(S) leader and former minister HD Revanna’s power, the BJP has decided to make Jarkiholi as KMF president.

"Belagavi is very sensitive issue always. The border issue, sugar mills and water issue captured state headlines and powerful families like Umesh Katti, Prabhakar Kore and Jarkiholi brothers control Belgavi politics. By giving KMF president’s position to Jarkiholi family, the entire north Karnataka will get a boost in terms of dairy farming development." said TS Chandrashekhar, Karnataka BJP spokesperson.

Opposition criticises move

The JD(S), which always enjoys dictating terms in KMF administration, said no one can develop the milk federation like Revanna.

"It was during HD Deve Gowda's term as Prime Minister that his son HD Revanna managed to get funds to boost development of KMF.  Now, Congress’s Bheema Naik is aspiring and from the BJP, Balachandra Jarkiholi has been decided (as KMF president). I am friends with both, but no one can run the federation like the way Revanna does," said Konareddy NH, former MLA and JD(S) leader from north Karnataka.

He further added that the election to the milk federation should have been held last month but the BJP government cancelled and now they want to hold election according to their whims and fancies.

"The institutions like boards and federations are being used to fulfill political motives," said Konareddy.

Though Jarkiholi did not respond, Naik representing Hyderabad-Karnataka region confirmed that he is an aspirant and hopes to make it.

"There are 15 members in the federation who will decide on the president’s post and two will be from the government. A quorum of eight members is required to decide. From the Congress, we have eight members including Ramesh Jarkiholi while the JDS(S) has three members. I think I have an edge," said Naik.