After being absent from Ballari’s political landscape for eight years, the Reddy brothers have returned. But do they wield the same influence they once did?

In this Karnataka mining district, there is real anger against the trio — Gali Janardhana Reddy, and his brothers Karunakara and Somashekhara — for their muscle power and corruption, but some give them credit for making possible physical infrastructure such as fly-overs, roads and for improvement of civic amenities.

The talk revolves around Janardhana Reddy, a former State minister, who spent three years in jail after being indicted in a mining scam involving his Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC). Last week, the Supreme Court, which granted Reddy conditional bail in 2015, had refused to revoke the ban on his entry into Ballari.

In order to regain the party’s base in the district, the BJP has given Reddy’s close associate — B Sriramulu — a free-hand. This has softened the anger in the district as people believe Sriramulu to be a do-oer, but locals are now upset as he has been shifted out of Ballari and made the BJP’s candidate in both Molakalmuru (Chitradurga district), and in Badami (Bagalkot district).

However, all of Reddy’s other associates have been accommodated in Ballari. This includes Somashekhara (Ballari city), TH Suresh Babu (Kampli town), Sanna Fakirappa (Ballari Rural) and MS Somalingappa (Shiraguppa).

Poll trend

Of the 9 Assembly seats in the district, seven are reserved — Ballari rural, Kampli, Siraguppa, Kudalgi, Sandur, Hadagalli, and Hagaribomanalli — and two are general constituencies — Ballari City and Vijayanagar (Hospet).

In 2008, during the hey days of the mining boom, the BJP managed to win eight constituencies except Sandur, which went to the Congress. In 2013, after the split in BJP — BS Yeddyurappa broke off to form the KJP and Sriramulu created the BSR-Congress — the Congress managed to win four seats, the BJP one, the BSR-Congress three and an independent candidate, one.

This time around, the district is seeing a direct fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP.

Ballari City is witnessing a triangular clash: Somasekhara Reddy will be up against mining barons Anil Lad of the Congress and Iqbal Hothur of the Janata Dal-Secular.

Congress attack

The Congress’ electoral strategy has centred on their criticism of the Reddy brothers, and the BJP’s renewed proximity to the siblings, tainted by their alleged involvement in the mining scam.

Party President Rahul Gandhi equated the BJP’s move to the 1975 classic Sholay , which features a band of robbers. “In the film Sholay , there was Gabbar Singh. You (the BJP-led Central government) brought the Gabbar Singh Tax (referring to GST), but this time you have gone even further. You have fielded Gabbar, Samba, Kalia and all of the Reddy brothers’ gang that was in jail…you are trying to trying to get them inducted into the Assembly, and you tell the country that you are fighting against corruption.”

At an arm’s length

There have been claims and counter-claims that the cases against Janaradhana Reddy by the CBI and the ED have been dropped by the Modi government to help him return to active politics. The BJP, however, has been distancing itself.

It is said that BJP chief Amit Shah has asked BS Yeddyurappa to ensure that the party’s State leaders are not seen in public with Janardhana Reddy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who surprised everyone by addressing a political rally in Ballari, accused the Congress of ruining the city’s rich history and legacy by trying to paint it as a region of criminals and thugs. By defaming Ballari, the Congress has disrespected the people of the district, Modi claimed.

In history

The district was a Congress stronghold till the emergence of the Reddy brothers in 1999-2000. Later, the mining boom saw agriculture taking a back-seat, and the Reddys gained immensely.

Illegal mining in district led to the rise of allied industries, with many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) mushrooming, along with the traditional denim industry.

After the mining industry collapsed following the crackdown by law enforcement agencies, the allied industries are now in doldrums. Moreover, demonetisation and the implementation of GST has also hurt them.

Despite these issues, the district is witnessing contests of personality than on party lines.

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