As a result, the leader accused in the illegal mining case severed his two-decade ties with the BJP.
Published Date – Sunday 22nd December 25th at 02:45 PM
As a result, the leader accused in the illegal mining case severed his two-decade ties with the BJP.
Bangalore: Former Karnataka state minister and mining tycoon Gali Janadhana Reddy on Sunday announced the formation of a new political party called “Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha”.
As a result, the leader accused in the illegal mining case severed his two-decade ties with the BJP.
Re-entering Karnataka’s electoral politics from outside the Ballari district, he also announced that he will contest the 2023 assembly elections in Gangavathi, Koppal district.
“Despite the BJP leaders saying that I am not a member of the party and have no affiliation with it, the country and the people believe that I am from the party, but this belief has been proven wrong. Today I declare Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha, by myself The idea of Basavanna (the 12th century social reformer) against divisive politics in the name of religion and caste,” Reddy said.
In an interview with reporters, he said that in the coming days, he will travel across the state organizing gatherings and sharing his thoughts with the people. “So far, I have never failed in any new initiative in my life. Ever since I was a kid playing marbles, I am not a loser. So when I walk in front of the people of Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha, I With confidence in their blessing, there is no doubt that Karnataka will be Kalyana Rajya (welfare state) in the future,” he added.
Reddy has largely been politically inactive for nearly 12 years since he was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in a mining scam, save for a brief stint ahead of the 2018 parliamentary vote, when he campaigned for his presidential campaign chum, current minister B Sriramulu. In Molakalmuru Assembly section.
Ahead of the 2018 parliamentary vote, the then BJP National Chairman Amit Shah said in response to a reporter’s question, “The BJP has nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy.” “I built a house in Gangavathi and registered the electoral rolls there and I will run from there,” said Reddy of his hometown of Ballari, who has been charged in illegal mining cases involving tens of millions since 2015. He was released on bail, with the Supreme Court imposing conditions in its order, including banning him from visiting Ballari in Karnataka and Ananthpur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh.
He had sought permission to visit Ballari to meet his daughter who had recently given birth to a girl, which the SC allowed.
Reddy’s wife Aruna Lakshmi recently held a ‘gruha pravesha pooja’ (housewarming ceremony) at their new home in Gangavathi, a constituency on the border of Ballari district, 62 kilometers from Ballari city.
Responding to a question about his wife’s political experience, he said, “My wife will be with me organizing the party and public life.” Where to go for the next parliamentary vote Present a manifesto and plan “In ten to fifteen days, I will announce the party flag, the symbol, and put forward a manifesto for the plan and possibly some candidates,” he added.
A party official said Reddy had been uncomfortable with the way he was being treated by the BJP for years because he ignored him, adding that his formation of a new party could have some sway over the saffron party in certain constituencies , especially in the Ballari belt, by reducing its vote share.
Reddy’s elder brother Karunakara Reddy is a BJP MLA from the Harapanahalli parliamentary constituency, while younger brother Somashekar Reddy represents the Ballari rural part of the party, while Sriramulu is an MLA and tribal welfare minister from Molakalmuru, Chitradurga district.
Answering questions, Reddy said he would not abuse his friendship to force Sri Ramuru, who is a minister in the current BJP government, to join the new party, nor would his brothers.
In recent days, there have been reports that Reddy and Sriramuru’s friendship is strained, which both sides have denied.
Saying goodbye to the saffron party, Reddy also recalled the names of BJP leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and BS Yediyurappa.
Reddy and his brother-in-law BV Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director of Obalapuram Mining Corporation (OMC), were arrested by the CBI from Bellary on 5 September 2011 and taken to Hyderabad.
The company is accused of altering mining lease boundary markings and engaging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area, which is spread between Karnataka’s Ballari and Andhra Pradesh’s Anantpur districts.
Reddy first came into the political spotlight during the 1999 Lok Sabha elections when he campaigned for the late Sushma Swaraj, who ran against Ballari’s Sonia Gandhi.
