By IANS,
Bellary (Karnataka): Mining barons Reddy brothers seem to be preparing for a complete break from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka with their associate B. Sriramulu Monday announcing plans for a new outfit.
The brothers, pampered by the party till recently, are already taking on the BJP in their stronghold Bellary in the Nov 30 bypoll to the state assembly from Bellary Rural constituency. The iron ore rich district of Bellary is about 300 km north of Bangalore.
They propped up Sriramulu as an Independent candidate after making him quit the Bellary Rural seat, which he had won in May 2008 assembly elections, and the party.
Announcing the plan to float a new party, Sriramulu told an election meeting here Monday, the last day of the public campaigning, that details will be worked out once Gali Janardhana Reddy comes out of jail.
Janardhana Reddy, former Karnataka tourism minister, has been lodged in Hyderabad’s Chanchalaguda Jail since Sep 5 in connection with illegal mining case in Andhra Pradesh.
“Some BJP legislators will join the new party. Details of the new party will be worked out after Janardhana Reddy comes out of jail,” Sriramulu said.
Of the other two Reddy brothers, G. Somashekara has been suspended from the BJP for campaigning for Sriramulu while the elder G. Karunakara has not been seen in public since mid-September.
Two BJP Lok Sabha members and four state party lawmakers, including Somashekara Reddy, have been campaigning for Sriramulu. All of them have also been suspended from the party.
One of the Lok Sabha members, J. Shanta is Sriramulu’s sister.
The state BJP leadership has put up a united face and has campaigned vigorously to defeat Sriramulu, apologising to the people of Bellary for allowing the Reddy brothers and their associates to run “goonda raj (rule of thugs)” in the district.
On the last day Monday, the party brought Bollywood “dream girl” Hema Malini, BJP Rajya Sahba member from Karnataka, to canvass for the party candidate P. Gadilingappa, a Bellary businessman, who is contesting for the assembly for the first time.
Chief Minister D.V. Sandananda Gowda, his predecessor B.S. Yeddyurappa, state BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa, senior party leader and Rajya Sabha member M. Venkaiah Naidu and several state ministers have campaigned to defeat Reddy brothers’ gamble to remain relevant in Karnataka politics.
The Congress has fielded B. Ramprasad, who had lost to Sriramulu in the 2008 polls. The Janata Dal-Secular is not contesting.
Over 170,000 people are eligible to vote on Nov 30. Counting of votes is Dec 4.