BJP, JD(S) step up pressure seeking Jarkiholi’s resignation ahead of special Legislative session

Ahead of the three-day special session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on the prevailing drought, farmers’ distress, and the Kasturirangan report, beginning September 21, the Opposition BJP and JD(S) are likely to intensify their campaign for the resignation of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) searches at 21 premises linked to him, his family members, and associates.

The ED has reported the seizure of ₹3.3 crore in unaccounted-for cash and has alleged that its searches uncovered documents pointing to bribery in the award of Public Works Department (PWD) contracts and undisclosed overseas 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’s findings have put Karnataka under a massive cloud of suspicion. We demand the immediate removal of Satish Jarkiholi until the investigation is complete and he comes clean,” Mr. Ashok said.

The BJP and its ally JD(S) are likely to use the allegations to mount pressure on the Congress government. The Opposition had adopted a similar strategy during the Monsoon Session over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, eventually forcing the resignation of the then Minister B. Nagendra. Both, incidentally, belong to the same Nayaka (Scheduled Tribe) community.

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

BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra sought to link the ED action to the reported differences within the Congress over the Chief Minister’s post after 2028, saying the raids could further expose the factionalism within the ruling party.

The Congress, meanwhile, has maintained that Central agencies such as the ED are being used to target Opposition leaders. Mr. Shivakumar has also alleged political misuse of the agency.