BELLARY: The ouster of Bellary Reddy brothers and Sriramulu from the BJP is a godsend to the party. The party was being held responsible for their misdeeds. We were fed up with defending their illegal activities. Now we are glad that link between the Reddys and the BJP is cut forever. This is how state BJP president K S Eshwarappa sees the ouster of Bellary Reddy brothers who were, not long ago, considered to be the “powerful sect” of the state BJP due to their enormous money power, which earned them the tag of “BJP bankers”.In an interview with The New Indian Express, Eshwarappa, amidst his hectic campaigning schedule, minced no words to describe the Reddy brothers as a curse to the party and dismissed them as non-entities in state politics in future.“Because of them, the honest and sincere party workers were made to bow their heads in shame as they were confronted with the questions on illegal mining wherever they went. We are rejoicing their exit,” he said.But what about the free run the Reddys had in the matters of Bellary district and in the state government? Eshwarappa candidly admits the party’s mistake. “We are repenting for having allowed them to make Bellary their fiefdom. We are seeking apology from the people of Bellary for this. Now we have realised our mistake which will be corrected in the coming days.”Eshwarappa hopes to make amends by taking up massive development works in Bellary. “The only way we can do justice to the district is by developing it. We have already released a blueprint, and we will implement whatever promises made in it. On December 19, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, along with officials, will visit all villages in Bellary rural constituency and start developmental programmes. We will change Bellary in 18 months. we promise,” he added.Eshwarappa also makes it clear that the BJP doors are shut on the Reddys permanently. “There is no question of the party having any kind of rapprochement with the Reddy brothers and Sriramulu. The damage caused by them to the party is unbearable,” he said.On the claims of the Reddys and Sriramulu that the party was in Bellary because of them, Eshwarappa said, “Who knew Sriramulu prior to the 1999 Parliamentary elections? It was the BJP which made them leaders in Bellary and not vice versa.”On rumours of Sriramulu floating a party, Eshwarappa said: “I hope Sriramulu will not commit that mistake. Minus BJP he is nothing in politics. He might end up losing whatever money he has earned through mining if he floats a party.”Eshwarappa, who along with former CM BS Yeddyurappa and Sadananda Gowda, is on a whirlwind campaigning in Bellary is also confident of the party’s victory. “Nobody can stop the BJP from winning this election. People have revolted against the Reddys. The Congress continues to be as disoriented as it was in the previous elections. So people have no choice but to vote for the BJP,” he said. “At the start of the campaigning, we were worried our chances. But after having toured the constituency we are confident of our victory,” he added.
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