Bellary minefield jolt to Karnataka government?

BELLARY/BANGALORE: Bellary, the BJP’s citadel in Karnataka for the last one decade, is crumbling with the powerful Reddy brothers planning to part ways with the saffron party after its leaders dumped them following their indictment in the Lokayukta’s final report on illegal mining.As a first step, their associate Sreeramulu is likely to target the BJP leadership at his scheduled press conference in Bangalore on Sunday before announcing his decision to quit from the primary membership of the party and his MLA seat.The Reddys, who held a series of meetings with their supporters, dropped enough hints that they are not going to stay in the BJP and would not tolerate any more “humiliation” and “isolation” by the party leadership.The Reddys are also said to be toying with the idea of making Sreeramulu a candidate for the Koppal Assembly byelection as an independent candidate to “teach BJP and its leaders a lesson”.But the state BJP unit expressed confidence of retaining the Bellary leaders.“I have spoken to both Janardhan Reddy and Sreeramulu, they have promised not harm BJP’s interests,” BJP state president K S Eshwarppa told Express.But he too sounded apprehensive on the next move of the maverick Bellary leaders and said he learnt that Sreeramulu would address a press conference in Bangalore.On statements of MLAs Chandra Naik and M S Somalingappa that Reddys would quit the BJP and float a new outfit or contest as independents to seek reelection, Eshwarappa said he was not aware of what the BJP MLAs had said.The indoor parleys at “Kuteera” the home office of Reddy’s in Bellary was attended by two MP’s J Shantha (Bellary) and Sanna Fakkirappa (Koppal) besides MLAs M S Somalingappa (Siruguppa), Chandra Naik (Hoovina Hadagali), Nemiraj Naik (Hagaribommanahalli), T H Suresh Babu (Kampli) among others.However, Anand Singh of Vijayanagar Assembly seat stayed away from the meeting since his relations with Reddys have strained.Sources in the BJP said the meeting discussed more about Sreeramulu’s resignation and its impact.So, as of now Reddy’s would continue to stay put in the BJP and would observe the later developments after Sreeramulu resigns.