Janardhana Reddy is still with BJP: Sriramulu

A day after Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah said the party had nothing to do with mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy, BJP State vice-president B. Sriramulu said Mr. Reddy was still with the party.

“I can only say that Mr. Reddy is a staunch supporter of the BJP and is with the party. I don’t want to discuss the issue in public,” Mr. Sriramulu, a close friend of Mr. Reddy, told reporters here.

He said he would meet senior BJP leaders to discuss Mr. Shah’s statement and get the issue resolved internally.

Mr. Sriramulu did not agree that the party was side-lining him. He said the BJP had given him various political positions, made him an MP and also showed him respect by making him one of the star campaigners. “Both me and Mr. Reddy are like family members. What pains me is that Mr. Reddy is unable to enter Ballari district because of the Supreme Court order,” he said.