The infamous Reddy brothers of Ballari – Karunakara Reddy, Janardhana Reddy and Somashekhar Reddy – whose united front helped them consolidate power in the state may be seeing cracks in their camp. And all thanks to election tickets.
The political fortunes of the three brothers saw reverses when they were named in the mining scam, but in the recent years Karunakara and Somashekhar have managed to come out of political oblivion.
There is speculation in the Janardhana Reddy camp that he is setting up younger brother Somasekhar for the upcoming Assembly polls from Ballari City if the Bharatiya Janata Party does not give him a ticket.
However, sources in the BJP say that Janardhana is in a catch-22 situation, where he cannot afford to take on BJP as an enemy.
"If Somashekhar or Janardhana Reddy have to contest as independents, they cannot do so without the BJP's permission. This is because the party leaders can corner him with information they know about Janardhana, which could bring down his image further. The BJP is never going to allow him to contest as an independent because the party does not want its image ruined right before state elections and a year before the Lok Sabha polls," a source said.
The leaders are also apprehensive about Somashekhar getting a ticket to contest from Ballari City. Somashekhar managed to stay away from the scandal, but he is still close to his brother Janardhana, so party sources say that it is risky to offer him a ticket.
"There is no problem with Somshekar Reddy and Sriramalu, both are working together. This time in Bellari we will win seats in all segments. Have not discussed anything on Janardhan Reddy," Yeddyurappa told reporters without clarifying if the party will give Somshekhar a ticket.
BJP National President Amit Shah, during his recent visit to Mysuru, said the party had nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy.
Karunakara, who kept a low profile when the mining scandal broke, is still associated with the BJP and may even get a ticket to contest from Harappanahalli constituency in Ballari district.
“I’ve been associated with the party for the past 22 years. The party knows my organisational skills and my dedication. I’m confident of securing the Harapanahalli ticket,” Karunakara told Times of India.
Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader said, "Karunakara has been advised to distance himself from Janaradhana Reddy. The national leadership has given strict orders that Janardhana Reddy should no way be directly involved in the elections.”
Karunakara himself hinted that he is distancing himself from his tainted younger brother. “When the national president has spoken about it (distancing from Janardhana), I wouldn’t like to talk about it. There’s no question of Janardhana campaigning on my behalf in Harapanahalli,” he said.