K'taka: BJP in two sides, Reddys planning for new party

Bellary (Karnataka), Nov 29: Mining barons Reddy brothers on Monday announced that they are planning to break up from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and form a new outfit along with their associate, B Sriramulu.

The Reddy brothers support Former Health Minister Sriramulu as an independent candidate after he was asked to quit from the Bellary Rural seat. B Sriramulu won the Bellary Assembly elections in 2008.

While addressing the election campaign, Sriramulu announced that they will form a separate party once Gali Janardhana Reddy comes out of jail. Janardhana Reddy, former Tourism Minister has been accused in the illegal mining scam.

"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.

Meanwhile, two BJP Lok Sabha members and four state party lawmakers, including Somashekara Reddy have been suspended from the party for supporting Sriramulu in the Bellary Rural assembly elections.

The state BJP leadership is in a move to defeat Sriramulu in the comming election. They apologised to the people of Bellary for not being able to stop Reddy brothers and their associates from reigning their "goonda raj" in the district.

Chief Minister D V Sandananda Gowda, State BJP Chief K S Eshwarappa, Rajya Sabha member M. Venkaiah Naidu and several state Ministers have been campaigning to defeat Reddy brothers in order to retain their relevant positions in state politics. Close to 170,000 people are eligible to vote for the Nov 30 bypoll.

OneIndia News