So what is Gali Janardhana Reddy, the mining baron and the former kingmaker in Karnataka, doing nowadays in Hyderabad Chanchalguda jail?
He is closely monitoring the battle against the BJP in Bellary rural constituency in which his loyal friend B Sriramulu is contesting as independent for the ensuing by-poll. And planning to found a new political party to take on BJP and Congress.
Yes, Janaradhana Reddy, who has been lodged in Chanchalguda prison since Sep 5 in connection with illegal mining case, is pinning all hopes of future on this election slated for today (November 30).
Sriramulu, a former minister, is contesting as an independent candidate after resigning from the BJP. He is fighting against his former party’s candidate P Gadilingappa, a Bellary businessman and B Ramprasad of Congress, who had lost to Ramulu in 2008 elections.
This is a do-or-die battle for the Gali brothers, who are facing the test of their life, while the BJP wants to show that individuals are not more important than the party.
Janardhana Reddy’s younger brother Somasekhara Reddy has been suspended from the BJP for canvassing for Sriramulu. Janardhana Reddy is livid with BJP for dropping him like hot potato in the aftermath of CBI arrest.
Sriramulu has announced that he will float a new party after results are out Dec 4, as advised by Janardhana Reddy. He says he is waiting for Janardhana Reddy to come out of jail to finalise details of the new outfit.
