BJP president Amit Shah may have said his Party has nothing to do with Janardhan Reddy, who spent three years in jail over multiple charges of corruption and illegal mining, but the mining baron has been spotted campaigning for the BJP ahead of the assembly polls in Karnataka, an NDTV report has said.
Two of the three Reddy brothers—the trio has a tainted record of being associated with a huge mining scam in the State—have been fielded as MLA candidates by the BJP. Karunakar Reddy and G Somashekar Reddy are contesting from Harapanhalli and Bellary respectively.
The two brothers are hoping to make a comeback to mainstream politics after being pushed to the background after Janardhan was accused of running a mining racket between 2008 and 2013.
Somashekar Reddy, whose name figured in the BJP’s second list of candidates for the May 12 polls, was also accused of bribing a judge to secure Janardhan’s bail, according to this ET report.
Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, Somashekar said, “BJP is mother for all Reddy brothers” including Janardhan Reddy.
Amit Shah has said that BJP is maintaining a distance from Janardhan, but the man has been campaigning for his close associate, Sriramulu. Sriramulu is, of course, contesting against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from the Badami constituency.
An India Today report has said that it was Janardhan Reddy, a former BJP MLA, who helped the saffron party establish itself in southern India in 2008 under BS Yeddyurappa. He is said to be monitoring Raichur, Ballari, Chitradurga, Koppal, Haveri and Gadag in this year’s elections.