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Lok Sabha polls: Bharatiya Janata Party says no to merger with BSR

The BJP state leadership vehemently argued for Mr Sriramulu’s re induction as there was no Lokayukta charge against him in illegal mining cases

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: After public opposition by senior leader Sushma Swaraj about his re induction into the party, the BJP central leadership has finally agreed to the conditional re entry of BSR Congress party supremo B. Sriramulu into the saffron fold.

The BJP central leadership has categorically said no to the merger of BSR Congress with the BJP but agreed to re induct Mr Sriramulu and shut the doors on the Reddy brothers.

The party’s central poll panel which met in New Delhi on Thursday, discussed the pros and cons of the re induction of Mr Sriramulu, who was closely associated with jailed mining baron Janardhan Reddy.

Sources said that the central leadership agreed to re induct Mr Sriramulu on the condition that he would give up his Assembly membership before contesting in Bellary on a BJP symbol.

Since the BJP leadership has refused to give permission for the merger of BSR Congress with the BJP, the remaining three MLAs of BSR Congress can retain the party identity in the Assembly.

Sources in the party also said that it is inevitable for Mr Sriramulu to accept the party offer and join the BJP to contest the LS polls from Bellary.

Since the Reddy brothers are facing CBI charges in the illegal mining cases, it is inevitable for them to take shelter under a national party like the BJP, sources said.

To avoid the norms of the anti defection law under the 10th schedule of the Indian Constitution, Mr Sriramulu should give up his membership of the Assembly before he takes primary membership of the BJP.

The party central leadership has communicated its decision on the re entry to Mr Sriramulu, sources said.

However, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has reportedly not agreed to the decision taken by the party. In spite of her dissenting note, the party leadership decided to go ahead and induct Mr Sriramulu by putting conditions, said sources.

The BJP state leadership vehemently argued for Mr Sriramulu’s re induction. Since there was no Lokayukta charge against him in illegal mining cases, his re induction into the party would not embarrass them, state leaders argued.

State leaders have also explained it to the central leadership that the party can gain at least three Lok Sabha seats if the Valmiki strongman joins the BJP and contests from Bellary.

( Source : dc correspondent )
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