Blessing in disguise for BJP

BANGALORE: The arrest of MLC and former minister G Janardhana Reddy has evoked mixed reactions in the party. While some cheered it, stating it's a blessing in disguise for the BJP as he along with his elder brother G Karunakara Reddy and close associate B Sriramulu -- both former ministers -- have been embarrassing the party on several occasions, others are rather sceptical.
The Reddys were seen as moneybags pumping in valuable resources and several times even claimed they have funded the party, particularly during the 2008 assembly polls, when the BJP came to power.With Sriramulu planning to float a new political outfit and Reddy being arrested, the funds may dry up.
The situation has changed for the Reddys since 2009, when they had ferried more than 40 MLAs to Hyderabad in a bid to dethrone chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. Janardhana Reddy no longer commands that kind of influence among party legislators.
Just five MLAs and two MPs were present at Janardhana Reddy's residence in Bellary a day before Sriramulu's resigned his assembly membership on Sunday. Even his close associates -- Anand Singh (Hampi-Vijaynagar MLA) and Nemiraj Naik (Hagaribommannahalli MLA) -- are no more with him.
A minister in the Sadananda Gowda's cabinet told TOI the Reddy brothers used legislators to settle scores with the government. "They took us to Hyderabad demanding Yeddyurappa's replacement and got their wishlist addressed by Yeddyurappa. Later, they just dumped us,'' he said.
When the government announced that houses for flood victims would be constructed, the Reddy brothers made a counter-announcement they would construct houses in Bellary at their own cost. But that plan never took off.
However, the BJP has tried to keep them in good humour. BJP national president Nitin Gadkari attended the annual Varamahalakshmi puja in Bellary after Sushma Swaraj, opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, whom the Reddy's consider their mother, disassociated herself from them.
Condemning Reddy's arrest, state BJP president KS Eshwarappa said: "Reddy's arrest is nothing but a ploy by the Congress to cover up its scams. The Congress in Andhra Pradesh has bit the dust and government there may fall at any time. Reddy has been made a scapegoat by the AP Congress. I'm confident the Reddys will come out clean.''