(Image source from: Twitter.com/BJP4Karnataka)
Former mining baron and controversial figure from Kalyana Karnataka, Gali Janardhan Reddy, officially merged his political party, Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP), into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. Reddy founded the KRPP in December 2022 and successfully won a seat as an MLA from the Gangavati constituency in the 2023 state assembly elections. Addressing reporters, Reddy expressed his joy at rejoining the BJP, asserting his loyalty to the party and his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He stated, "I want to see Narendra Modi as Prime Minister once again, and I will diligently work for the party in my region. BJP runs in my blood."
However, Reddy did not specify the role he will undertake within the party, stating, "I will accept any responsibility assigned to me by the party." Recently, Gali Janardhan Reddy, who is embroiled in a multi-crore mining scandal, met with Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, signaling his return to the saffron party. During the recent Rajya Sabha elections, he gained attention for supporting a Congress candidate. Notably, during BS Yediyurappa's tenure as Chief Minister from 2008 to 2011, Reddy played a significant role as a BJP leader. Additionally, he played a crucial part in Sushma Swaraj's parliamentary election campaign in 1999, when she contested against Sonia Gandhi in Bellary.
ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @BYVijayendra ಮತ್ತು ಮಾಜಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @BSYBJP ಅವರ ಸಮ್ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಲಯ ಜಗನ್ನಾಥ ಭವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ @GaliJanardhanar, ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಅರುಣಾ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ, ಡಾ. ಥಾಮಸ್ ಜಾನ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಂಬಲಿಗರು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಪಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆಗೊಂಡರು.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 25, 2024
ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಜಿ ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ… pic.twitter.com/AVNnuSvCPk
Speculation about Reddy's strained relations with BJP leaders arose following his imprisonment on charges of illegal mining. Granted bail in 2015, he was instructed to surrender his passport and seek permission before leaving the country. Subsequently, the BJP distanced itself from Reddy due to his tarnished reputation, reportedly preventing him from campaigning for the party in subsequent elections. Consequently, Reddy founded a new party and fielded candidates from the Kalyana Karnataka region in the 2023 assembly polls.
