Bangalore: The BJP in Karnataka is almost back to its 2008 position with the inclusion of former minister B Sriramulu into the party.
Sriramulu has been a close friend of infamous Reddy brothers of Bellary who have been charge sheeted in the mega mining scam. The head of the Reddy brothers' family and former Karnataka minister G Janardhana Reddy has been in jail for over two and a half years.
Sriramulu quit the BJP in 2012 to form his own BSR Congress Party. The BSR Congress won just 4 seats in the assembly elections held in 2013 May. After that he was trying to merge his party with the Congress. But, the Congress refused to take the Reddy brothers party and he started lobbying with the BJP.
The state BJP and a section in the national BJP agreed to merge his party with the BJP. But, leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj opposed the merger. Despite her public opposition, the BJP went ahead with the inclusion of Sriramulu.
The BJP is defending the decision saying that Sriramulu is not facing any cases and he can't be made a criminal just because of his association with Reddy brothers. Sriramulu, a sitting MLA is likely to contest from Bellary Lok Sabha seat on the BJP ticket.
Defending his return to the BJP leader of opposition in Karnataka assembly Jagadish Shettar said "if the Congress can go with Lalu Prasad Yadav, what is wrong in going with Sriramulu"?
Reddy brothers of Bellary are accused of illegally mining and exporting iron ore worth over Rs.25,000-30,000 crore from Karnataka. Some of their properties have been confiscated by the Enforcement Directorate after the CBI raid.
Sriramulu's return to the BJP is being seen as a first step towards bringing the Reddys back into the party. However the local BJP leaders claim that the doors of the party have been permanently closed for them.
The ruling Congress has attacked the BJP for taking Sriramulu back into the party.
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