The Supreme Court found "no merit" in his plea. "There is no need for him to campaign in the elections," NDTV quoted the top court as saying.
In his plea, Reddy had asked for relaxation of his ban for 10 days so that he could campaign and cast his own vote.
The BJP had already cosied up to the mining baron in the run up to the elections. Seven of his friends, including family members were given tickets mostly in and around the mining heartland of north-west Karnataka close to two Telugu states.
This despite the BJP’s national president Amit Shah saying that the party has “nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy”. The party has maintained that he is “only campaigning for his friends”. He had reportedly cancelled a rally in the district just to avoid the company of the Reddy clan.
Although the BJP’s central leadership is keeping a safe distance and not sharing stage with him, he is arguably the party’s most resourceful organiser in the region. He has set up base at the border of Ballari and Chitradurga and chalking out strategies for the saffron party.
The party’s Chief Ministerial aspirant BS Yeddyurappa, a former CM himself had said that he has forgiven the Reddy brothers for the interest of state and insisted that his influence will secure the party 10-12 seats in the region.
Other than the two brothers— Somasekhara (Bellary City) and Karunakar (Harpanahalli), their nephew Lallesh has got a ticket to contest in Bengaluru against Congress heavyweight Ramalinga Reddy at BTM Layout.
Janardhana Reddy has so far campaigned for his trusted lieutenant Sriramulu, currently an MP who is contesting this elections from Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district. Sriramulu is also BJP’s candidate against CM Siddaramaiah in his second seat in Badami, in Mumbai-Karnataka region.
Sriramulu's uncle Sanna Fakirappa too has received a ticket to contest from Ballari rural constituency.
