Gali plans a Sriramulu, to launch political outfit

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Another BJP leader from Ballari is all set to float a new political party after being “ignored and snubbed” by the saffron party. This time, it is none other than former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy who was considered as the right-hand man of veteran BJP leader and former CM BS Yediyurappa, and instrumental in the poaching of MLAs of other parties as part of ‘Operation Lotus’.

Reddy’s political fortune took a nosedive after being arrested by various central government agencies for various alleged offences including illegal mining and altering the state border, and spent a couple of years in jail. Though he is out on bail, the once BJP strongman is barred from entering Ballari district to prevent him from “destroying evidence”.

The BJP is not ready to formally re-induct him into the party, possibly because quite a few cases are pending against him in various courts. Even before getting a clean chit from the courts, the ‘Gani Dhani’ (mining czar) wants to plunge into politics once again.

He conveyed his intentions of being part of the lotus party in view of the upcoming Assembly polls, but the response has been lukewarm from both Bengaluru and Delhi party bosses. Now, Reddy has built a house in Gangavathi, a paddy-rich district, and is planning to launch a new regional party.

In 2011, Reddy’s very close friend and business partner B Sriramulu did the same by launching BSR Congress (Badavara, Shramikara, Raithara Congress) and had won four seats out of a total 150 seats contested in the 2013 Assembly elections.

At that time, Sriramulu had serious differences of opinion with the State leaders and had resigned from the saffron party. Though the BSR Congress did not make a significant impact on the state politics, it definitely divided the traditional BJP votes. So, the tally of BJP reduced to just 40 seats of the total 224 seats.

Besides, the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) launched by Yediyurappa also divided votes and helped the Congress return to power with an absolute majority. Now, Gaali’s new political outfit may not win 60-80 seats and become a key player during the formation of the next government but it will divide the customary BJP votes in Ballari district in particular and in other districts where Reddy voters are large in number.

If this happens, it will be a minus point for the BJP as every single seat is important for them to retain power in the State. In the fight between Reddy and BJP, the Congress may well benefit. It is learnt that Reddy has already selected a name for the new regional party and is expected to make a formal announcement in the next two or three days.

In fact, Yediyurappa had launched his political party during the Belagavi session. To prevent this, Transport Minister B Sriramulu had been to Delhi to meet the BJP leaders to convey the impact on the party if Reddy launches a new political outfit. Yediyurappa has said that Reddy has assured him that he would not do anything that would affect prospects of the BJP in the crucial 2023 Assembly polls.

The BJP is in a tight spot as it can’t induct Reddy into the party nor ignore him. The next two to three days have become very crucial for the lotus party