Will quit MLA post if Ballari split: Gali Somashekhar Reddy

BALLARI: The state government’s move to split ore-rich Ballari district and carve Karnataka’s 31st district, Hosapete-centric Vijayanagar, has triggered a major furore with Ballari city legislator, Gali Somashekhar Reddy, threatening to quit his membership of the Legislative Assembly, Saturday.

“Chief Minister Yediyurappa should not bifurcate Ballari district merely because Anand Singh resigned (demanding formation of a new district). What will he (Mr Yediyurappa) do in case four other BJP MLAs resign opposing bifurcation," Mr Somashekhar Reddy queried during an interaction with the media and referred to legislators of Siruguppa, Kudligi and Harapanahalli respectively, who are backing him on this contentious issue. Mr Reddy said some BJP legislators and health minister Mr B Sriramulu have requested the Chief Minister not to take a hasty decision on bifurcation of Ballari district.

Sources in BJP said in case, Mr Somashekhar Reddy and other BJP MLAs support the case of a undivided Ballari district, carving of a new district could spell doom for the BJP government.

Disqualified Congress MLA B S Anand Singh resigned in July citing two reasons: carving a separate district of Vijayanagar out of Ballari and sale of land to JSW. He is going all out to retain his bastion, Vijayanagar, encashing the issue of a separate district. Recently, he led a delegation of leaders and religious pontiffs to meet Mr Yediyurappa and to urge him to declare a new district of Vijayanagar district. Yediyurappa reportedly issued a letter announcing a proposal to split Ballari and will  place it before the next meeting of his cabinet for approval.

On Saturday, .senior Congress leader Mr KC Kondaiah, MLC, who has been supporting the demand for separate Vijayanagar district, said Ballari deputy commissioner Mr Nakul has sent a report to principal secretary, revenue department, as the latter sought a detailed report on allocation of taluks between two districts and existing infrastructure to run administrative offices at Hosapete. “The government is expected to declare Vijayanagar district on Monday evening after the state cabinet meeting",  Mr Kondaiah.added.