Former minister turned independent legislator, B. Sreeramulu , who is being wooed by the Janata Dal (U), is reportedly scheduled to meet its national president, Sharad Yadav and leader, Nitish Kumar in Delhi soon for talks.

The JD(U) is hoping that roping in Mr Sreeramulu will help it re-establish itself in Karnataka as he is likely to bring several MLAs with him into its fold. It is also reportedly working on winning over 25 legislators from different parties in the state as part of this exercise.

State JD(U) president Dr M.P. Nadagouda, acknowledges the party has invited Mr Sreeramulu to join it. “We invited him to join us soon after he won the recent Bellary byelection and he has agreed to meet our leaders in New Delhi,”' Dr Nadagouda said, speaking to Deccan Chronicle, making no secret of the party’s hope that he would bring several of his loyal MLAs with him into the JD(U).

“If Sreeramulu joins us, all his supporters including several MLAs will follow,” Dr Nadagouda added.
The JD(U)’s hopes have been fed by speculation that the Valmiki strongman’s decision to meet JD(U) leaders has the support of a large number of past and present ‘friendly MLAs’ from both the Congress and BJP. “The number of leaders supporting his decision is rising and the JD(U) is looking forward to roping him in when he meets their leaders shortly,” say party sources.

But before he meets JD(U) leaders, Mr Sreeramulu is expected to discuss the issue with close friend, Janardhan Reddy, currently behind bars, fighting charges of illegal mining. Some JD(U) leaders including Dr Nadagouda are also likely to meet Mr Reddy in jail. “Once Sreeramulu agrees to join the JD(U), we will make an attempt to bring all our former leaders who have joined different parties back into our fold,” say party leaders .

The JD(U) has decided to set up office in several district headquarters, including Belgaum and Bijapur in north-Karnataka where, it claims, several MLAs are already in touch with it.