Some BJP leaders say party is working to bring Laxman Savadi back home

Former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi's potential return to BJP after joining Congress sparks speculation and political rivalry.

The former Deputy Chief Minister in the then BJP government Laxman Savadi resigned from the party to join the Congress last year, a few days before Jagadish Shettar did. And, now, there is speculation that with the return of Mr. Shettar to the BJP, Mr. Savadi may also go back home.

The former MP and BJP leader Ramesh Katti told reporters in Belagavi on Monday that the party has initiated the process.

“The high command has formed a team to bring Mr. Savadi back home and I am in it. I am involved in the process of trying to get Mr. Savadi re-join the BJP. Senior leaders are in constant touch with me. I have already held some meetings with senior leaders,” he said.

Mr. Savadi, however, denied outright of any such plans.

It was then perceived that Mr. Savadi quit the BJP due to the quick rise of Ramesh Jarkiholi, a new entrant in the party.

The political rivalry between Mr. Savadi and Ramesh Jarkiholi goes back by decades, when both began their innings in public life from the District Central Cooperative Bank.

Mr. Savadi has earlier openly complained of Ramesh Jarkiholi aligning with other powerful Sahukar families of the district, including the Kattis, to defeat him in the DCC Bank polls.