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Reddy brothers threaten mass protest as Yediyurappa moves to divide their bastion Ballari

The Reddy brothers believe the move will greatly diminish their influence on the region and benefit disqualified Congress MLA Anand Singh.

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka government’s proposal to bifurcate the iron ore-rich Ballari district has been met with stiff resistance from the Reddy brothers, who have always controlled the region.

In a veiled threat to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, the Reddy brothers, who are associated with the ruling BJP, have threatened a mass stir if a new district, Vijayanagar, is carved out of Ballari.

The brothers see the move as a way to empower Anand Singh, the disqualified Congress MLA from Vijayanagar constituency who was once their close aide, and a concerted effort to weaken their influence. Singh, who is among the rebel MLAs who are backing the BJP, is among the foremost supporters of the proposal. He had resigned from the Congress citing the party’s inability to create the Vijayanagar district.

“Chief Minister Yediyurappa should not bifurcate Ballari district only because Anand Singh made that a reason and resigned… What will he (Yediyurappa) do if four other BJP MLAs resign opposing bifurcation?” an upset G. Somashekhar Reddy, the BJP MLA from Ballari, told reporters. He claimed that the idea of a unified Ballari was backed by the BJP legislators of Siruguppa, Kudligi and Harapanahalli and that they were not alone.

The brothers, however, aren’t the only one opposed to the proposal. Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah also demanded that Ballari remained unified.

“Anand Singh is becoming unpopular in his area. All this is a political gimmick and according to me there is no need for bifurcation,” Siddaramaiah told the media in Raichur Monday. “It is Belagavi that needs bifurcation as it has 18 assembly constituencies as compared to Ballari that has only 10.”

Yediyurappa had written to Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar on 20 September stating that carving out a new district of Vijayanagar from Ballari will help in better administration. The proposal is set to be discussed in the next cabinet meeting.

If the plan is put into action, Vijaynagar will become the 31st district in the state. As of now, Ballari has 11 talukas. Of these, Ballari, Kurugodu, Siraguppa, Sandur and Kudligi will remain with the district, while six other talukas — Hospet, Kampli, Hagaribommanahalli, Kottur, Hadagali and Harapanahalli — will make up the new Vijayanagar district.


Also read: CM Yediyurappa will complete his term, BJP says amid fears it could lose Lingayat support


‘Reddy brothers will lose power if district divided’

Political analysts believe that the fear of the Reddy brothers that their power in the region will be greatly diminished is well founded. Singh has a good hold over the Vijayanagar area and his influence will only grow while that of the Reddy brothers will wane, the analysts said.

Bengaluru-based political analyst Sandeep Shastri said the the internal conflict in Ballari stands exposed, with Anand Singh on one hand and the Reddy brothers on the other.

“If there is going to be a bifurcation, Anand Singh and his group will claim an upper hand and what is left of Ballari will be under the Reddy brothers,” Shastri explained. “Their influence will be greatly diminished. This a fight to carve out a space for each other.”

He also said Somashekhar Reddy’s statements are nothing but sabre-rattling.

With the Reddy brothers not being able to call the shots as of now after the illegal mining case which affected their political influence as well as their business, this bifurcation will further weaken them, many believe.


Also read: Explained: 2010 mining case verdict that dragged in ex-CJI Balakrishnan & BJP’s Sriramulu 


 

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