Karnataka assembly polls: Gali Janardhan Reddy eyes Sedam for comeback

Kalaburagi: Is mining baron turned politician, Gali Janardhan Reddy, who was in jail for over three years for his alleged involvement in the iron ore mining scam, preparing for a second innings in politics by contesting the 2018 assembly poll from Sedam?

Speculation on these lines is gaining ground owing to Mr Reddy's frequent visits to Sedam town and villages in the constituency ostensibly to participate in socio-religious and cultural events. The fact that he takes time out to call on religious heads and prominent leaders of the taluk and recently met former Deputy Speaker, Chandrashekhar Reddy Madana, who represented Sedam in the past, has only added to the speculation.

Mr Reddy, who has been barred from entering Ballari by the Supreme Court in view of the ongoing inquiry into illegal mining, is said to be looking for a constituency outside the district if the BJP decides to give him a green signal to contest the election. Sedam fits his bill as it has a very high concentration of Reddys.

In fact leaders from the community had represented it since the 1983 elections until Dr Sharan Prakash Patil put a brake on the trend in 2004. "A section of the Reddys, which has lost political power during the last one- and- a- half decade, is desperately looking for a leader to represent it. Although Mr Janardhan Reddy is an outsider, some of the Reddys, especially the youth, who are impressed by his money and muscle power, are toying with the idea of supporting him," said a senior community leader.

As for the BJP, it’s believed that fielding its former minister from Sedam will not only help it put up a tough fight in a seat it lost three times but also mobilise Reddy votes in adjoining seats.