Chitradurga: Barely three weeks after BJP national president Amit Shah declared that his party would have nothing to do with former BJP Minister , Gali Janardhan Reddy, the mining baron turned politician shared a dais on Saturday with state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Molkalmuru town, Chitradurga district.
In fact, it was Mr Yeddyurappa, who invited him on stage after Valmiki strongman, B Sriramulu filed his nomination papers for Molakalmur constituency.
Insiders says Mr Reddy has already shifted base to Molakalmur and is staying in a rented farmhouse in Hanagal village, 50 km away from Ballari.
Surprisingly, the mining baron, who revolted against Mr Yeddyurappa in 2009 when he was Chief Minister , along with 40 legislators, was seen falling at the BJP chief’s feet and seeking his blessings . Mr Reddy who was behind bars for three- and- a- half years after the CBI charged him with illegally mining iron ore, is currently out on bail. While he is prohibited from entering Ballari by his bail conditions, he appears to be holding the reins in choice of candidates for the district.
Also , his brothers , Somashekara Reddy and Karunakara Reddy are set to contest from Ballari City, and Harapanahalli respectively. His close aide, B Sriramulu's uncle, Sanna Fakirappa too has been given a BJP ticket to contest from Ballari rural constituency. Even more surprisingly, actor Saikumar, another close aide of Mr Janardhana Reddy, is being fielded from Bagepalli.
