Bengaluru: He may be barred from entering his home district of Ballari under his bail conditions in the illegal mining case against him, but mining baron turned politician, Gali Janardhan Reddy appears to be going all out to ensure the victory for his close confidant and Ballari BJP MP, B Sriramulu from both Molakalmuru and Badami assembly constituencies these polls.
On Wednesday he addressed hundreds of BJP workers at his farmhouse in Hanagal village in Molakalmuru constituency, 50 kms from Ballari, lashing out at Chief Miniter Siddaramaiah, saying he had betrayed him despite coming to his doorstep for help to win the Chamundeshwari by-election in 2006.
"Now the time has come to teach him a lesson by defeating him in Badami constituency," he is reported to have told his supporters.
Earlier, accompanying Mr Sriramulu in his campaigning in Kanakuppe village, Molakalmuru constituency, Mr Reddy declared the Valmiki strongman would win both from Badami and Molakalmuru .
The former Minister, who is already camping in Hanagal village to monitor Mr Sriramulu 's campaigning, said he would also go to Badami to defeat Mr Siddaramaiah.
"Goddess Chamundeshwari and Godess Badami Banashankari have blessed Sriramulu to finish off this Sidda Ravana (Siddaramaiah)," he added.
While the BJP has publicly distanced itself from Janardhana Reddy, Mr Sriramulu addressed Mr Reddy as 'senior BJP leader' at the election rally.
And it is apparent to most that the BJP is betting on the Reddy brothers and Mr Sriramulu to deliver for the party as it has given tickets to Mr Somashekhar Reddy from Ballari city and Mr Karunakar Reddy from Harapanahalli , besides Mr T H Suresh Babu, a nephew of Mr Sriramulu from Kampli and his uncle, Sanna Fakirappa from Ballari (ST).
