Working for BJP: Disowned' Janardhan Reddy campaigns for party in K'taka

Bellari: Despite being disowned by BJP president Amit Shah, former minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy is out on the streets, campaigning for the party’s candidates for upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

According to a report in NDTV, Reddy said, “I am working for the BJP.”

The 49-year-old, who has spent three years in jail over multiple charges of corruption and illegal mining, is out on bail since 2015.

The notorious politician, who has been barred from entering his home town Bellari, was on Wednesday seen just outside the district, campaigning for his friend V Sriramulu, the BJP candidate in Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district, NDTV reported.

Janardhan’s road show was entirely a BJP affair, complete with the party colours in flags, banners and scarves. His younger brother Somashekhar Reddy said, “BJP is the mother of all Reddy brothers. All three Reddys are in the BJP."

The mining baron termed the charges against him as “entirely political”.

During his roadshow, he said, "After nine years, there is no proof of illegality against me."

In March this year Amit Shah, while responding to media questions, said the "BJP has nothing to do with Janardhan Reddy."

However, Janardhan Reddy dodged a question on BJP president’s denial saying "No controversy questions please. Be positive."

Vivek Reddy, a Karnataka BJP leader, said: "He is not involved in the ticket distribution or decision making. He is not in the core committee of the party. If he wants to help his friend out, what is wrong?"

He further said Janardhan Reddy had gone in his "personal, individual capacity."

Janardhan Reddy, besides Yedyurappa, was responsible for BJP’s victory in 2008 Karnataka polls.

His image was badly affected following his arrest in alleged illegal iron ore mining after Karnataka Lokayukta in its report made him the main accused. However, the CBI closed all cases against him saying that there were no proper evidence against him.