Mysuru: Months after signalling that he would be a contender for the chief minister’s post in the 2028 assembly elections, public works minister Satish Jarkiholi changed tack, backing DK Shivakumar to lead Congress into the next election and continue as CM.Jarkiholi Friday indicated he was in no hurry to stake claim to the top post.“I had earlier said that I too aspire to become CM in 2028 if I get an opportunity,” he said. “But DK Shivakumar himself is saying that he will continue as CM. Let him. I will wait; age is on my side.”The shift comes in the wake of Enforcement Directorate searches at premises linked to him, his family members and associates. Sleuths covered 21 premises in connection with a probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act into alleged overseas investments, cross-border business dealings and financial irregularities. ED said it seized Indian and foreign currency worth about Rs 3.4 crore.Jarkiholi rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said he would respond to any notice issued by the agency. He also alleged the ED action was politically motivated. Shivakumar had backed him, describing the searches as “political”.Jarkiholi also sought to signal that his equation with former CM Siddaramaiah remained intact amid speculation of competing power centres within Congress. “Siddaramaiah’s army has not been split. Even now, he is our captain and I am the vice-captain. There should be no doubt about this. He and I are on good terms,” Jarkiholi said.He also played down his absence from a recent Bengaluru event described by some as an AHINDA convention, saying it was a backward-classes event and that he had not been invited.Referring to a visit by Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra after the ED searches, Jarkiholi said his relationship with the former CM had always been need-based and that there had been no change in their equation.On reports of the govt facing a financial crisis, Jarkiholi said finance department communications should not be interpreted as the govt being bankrupt. The department had only advised the govt to use funds as per budgetary allocations, and such directions were routine and aimed at maintaining financial discipline.
