BJP, JD(S) increase pressure for Jarkiholi’s resignation ahead of special legislative session

R. Ashok | Photo credit: File Photo

Ahead of the three-day special session of the Karnataka legislature on the prevailing drought, farmers’ plight and the Kasturirangana report starting on September 21, the opposition BJP and JD(S) are likely to intensify their campaign for the resignation of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi linked to his family headquarters and his associates (ED.2) searching his family’s premises (ED.1).

The ED announced the seizure of ₹3.3 crore in unaccounted cash and claimed that its searches revealed documents pointing to bribes in the awarding of Public Works Department (PWD) contracts and undisclosed foreign investments.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R. Ashok, demanded Mr. Jarkiholi’s removal from the Cabinet, saying the allegations were serious enough to warrant his resignation until the investigation was completed.

“The ED finding has thrown Karnataka under a huge cloud of suspicion. We demand the immediate removal of Satish Jarkiholi till the investigation is completed and he comes clean,” Mr Ashok said.

The BJP and its ally JD(S) are likely to use the allegations to build pressure on the Congress government. The opposition adopted a similar strategy during the monsoon session over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, which eventually forced the resignation of then minister B. Nagendra. Both incidentally belong to the same Nayaka (Scheduled Tribe) community.

Mr. Ashok alleged that money collected through PWD contracts was diverted to overseas mining assets and sought answers to its source, movement and beneficiaries. He also accused the DK Shivakumar government of allowing Karnataka to become an “ATM for the Congress high command”.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra sought to link the ED action to reported differences within the Congress over the post of chief minister after 2028, saying the raids could further expose factionalism within the ruling party.

The Congress, meanwhile, has alleged that central agencies like the ED are being used to target opposition leaders. Mr. Shivakumar also alleged political misuse of the agency.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 19:02 IST