Bellary money bags prove the waterloo for the coalition set up

Bangalore, Oct 7 (UNI) Cash rich and powerful mine owners from Bellary belonging to the BJP proved to be waterloo for the 20-month-old coalition set up that collapsed this afternoon following withdrawal of support by BJP.

The feud dates back to the initial stages of the coalition ministry and the biggest embarrassment came in the form of Rs 150 crore mining scandal involving Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy sensationally exposed by BJP Member of the Legislative Council Janardhana Reddy himself a mine owner from Bellary.

Consequently, the Chief Minister was under the scanner and the JD(S) prevailed upon the BJP to initiate action against Mr Reddy, resulting in his suspension.

The recent allegation that the Chief Minister was involved in an attempt to murder Sriramulu, another leader from Bellary who served as a Cabinet Minister under Mr Kumaraswamy, came in handy for the JD(S) leadership to browbeat the BJP and deny the saffron party its first chance to rule a state in the South India. Mr Sriramulu submitted his resignation following pressure from the JD(S).

Finally another BJP leader G Karunakara Reddy's remarks that he would never allow the Chief Minister to enter the Bellary district provided the JD(S) a good opportunity to violate the agreement on sharing of power. Mr Reddy, brother of Mr Janardhana Reddy, is a BJP MP representing Bellary Lok Sabha segment.

Apparently it became too difficult for the BJP leadership to contain these leaders as the party's thumping victory in the recent elections to local bodies had asserted the party's support base in the region, a base which BJP owed largely to the Reddy brothers and Sriramulu.

UNI