Bharatiya Janata Party leader BS Yeddyurappa on Friday said mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, who has spent three years in jail over corruption charges, will campaign for the party for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly elections. “It will be helpful for us,” the chief ministerial candidate told NDTV.
Yeddyurappa’s statement comes even after BJP President Amit Shah claimed that the party had nothing to do with Reddy. “Who all are going to support our candidates, we must take their help,” said Yeddyurappa. “This is such a crucial time.” Reddy has already campaigned for BJP candidate V Sriramulu in Molakalmuru. He also attended a roadshow in Chitradurga, around 100 km from Ballari, for the May 12 elections.
The BJP has also fielded his two brothers. While Somasekhar Reddy is the BJP candidate from Ballari city, Karunakara Reddy will contest from Harapanahalli. Reddy did not ask for tickets, Yeddyurappa told NDTV.
Reddy was made a minister in the Yeddyurappa government after the BJP won the Assembly elections in 2008. In 2011, the CBI arrested Reddy on charges of illegal mining.
On Thursday, Yeddyurappa told The Times of India that he has forgiven Reddy. “Not only Reddy, many have troubled me when I was CM [chief minister],” said Yeddyurappa. “I’ve forgotten it and pardoned them all in the interest of the state.” He, however, said that he would be “very careful” while forming the government.
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