Bengaluru: Despite openly claiming that the BJP has nothing to do with Janardhan Reddy, the inclusion of Gali Somashekhara Reddy’s name in the second list released by BJP on Monday evening has come as a surprise to all.
Gali Somashekhara Reddy (52), who happens to be the youngest of Reddy brothers, and is also accused of bribing a judge in the cash-for bail case involving Janardhan Reddy has been given a ticket to contest from Ballari in a possible bid to win the seat in the constituency.
No sooner was the list released, the Congress pounced on the opposition party with spokesperson Sujrewala tweeting that Amit Shah’s goof up at a public rally in Davangere referring to “Yeddyurappa Govt being the ‘Most Corrupt’ ever in Karnataka is coming true”.
It may be recalled that Shah had erroneously mentioned Yeddyurappa instead of Siddaramaiah at the rally. The video of the faux pass committed by the BJP national president had gone viral on the social media.
Speaking to NDTV, Karnataka BJP spokesperson Vivek Reddy said that while the party has “avoided drafting” any candidate convicted of corruption, it had made one compromise by fielding Somashekhara Reddy.
Referring to the tickets given to senior leaders Katta Subramanya Naidu and Krishnaiah Shetty from Shivaji Nagar and Malur respectively Vivek Reddy mentioned that the tickets have been given to the senior leaders only after they have been acquitted of the criminal charges faced by them.
“I think the party has made one compromise in order to ensure that we win the seat… it is not across the board like Congress… there are 67 complaints against Siddaramaiah,” Reddy was quoted speaking to NDTV.
Mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy was a minister in the BS Yeddyurappa government, who is leading the BJP campaign in Karnataka. Reddy was removed after massive corruption charges involving illegal mining in 2011. The marriage hosted by Reddy for his daughter, soon after note ban had raised several brows.
The first list of 72 candidates, released on April 8 included Sriramulu, MP from Ballari district and close aide of the Reddy brothers from a constituency in Chikamangaluru.
