Former Karnataka Minister And Mining Baron Janardhana Reddy Rejoins BJP Ahead Of 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Merges His KRPP

Former Karnataka minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, as per a report by NDTV.

Reddy, an accused in an illegal mining case, had formed the Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) before the state assembly polls last year, ending his two-decade-old association with the BJP.

Reddy merged KRPP with the BJP and joined the party along with his wife Aruna Lakshmi and family members, in the presence of veteran leader and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, state president B Y Vijayendra, and others.

He had also recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

Although Reddy had supported the Congress candidate in the 27 February Rajya Sabha polls, he explained that he rejoined the BJP to support making Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for a third term.

Reddy stated, "I will work as a common party worker along with other leaders under the leadership of Vijayendra. I have not come with any conditions or expectations. Whatever responsibility the party gives me, I will honestly work. BJP was always there in my blood, but due to some reasons I had gone out, but today I feel I have come back to my mother's lap. Looking at my brothers here, I don't feel like I'm coming back to the BJP office after 13 years."

Welcoming Reddy back to the party, Vijayendra said his joining would strengthen the BJP in the Kalyana Karnataka region.

Before the assembly polls last year, Reddy had been politically inactive for nearly 12 years following his arrest by Central Bureau of Investigation in an illegal mining case.

Despite being accused in the multi-crore illegal mining case, Reddy has been out on bail since 2015, with several restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the BJP's treatment of him, Reddy had announced a new party last year.

Reddy, known for his influence in Ballari and adjoining districts, played a crucial role in strengthening the BJP in Ballari. His support could be valuable for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.