Reddy brothers to walk in Jagan's footsteps?
BANGALORE: The one-month-old DV Sadananda Gowda government in Karnataka is likely to plunge into crisis. Former minister and powerful Bellary Reddys' comrade in arms B Sreeramulu is mulling a new regional outfit. Reddys are said to be fully backing their friend and may eventually join him.
The former health minister gave the grist to the rumour mills by stating that he would announce his next political move in about three days in Bangalore.
It is, however, not clear whether this is a serious attempt by the Reddys to severe ties with the BJP or only a blackmailing tactic for a hard bargain to secure a Cabinet representation at least for Sriramlu.
Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda refused to respond to the speculation and shot back saying that 'only Sriramulu could answer what he wants to do.'
According to sources close to the Reddy camp, Sriramulu, who belongs to the Valmiki community, is said to be planning to bank on his popularity by floating a regional outfit with presence in at least six to eight districts.
Simmering with discontent after being kept out of the Cabinet following serious indictment in the final report on illegal mining by former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, the Bellary lobby ' Gali Janardhan Reddy, Gali Karunakara Reddy, Somashekhara Reddy and Sriramulu ' were pushed to the wall after their godmother Sushma Swaraj publicly disowned them.
Feeling betrayed, the four reportedly decided to float a new outfit to emerge as king-makers with limited presence in North Karnataka and Telugu-speaking belt on the Andhra Pradesh border by joining hands with their friend ' YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy.
News Posted: 3 September, 2011
|
