BALLARI: The battle for Sandur Assembly segment, the bypoll for which is scheduled on November 13, is likely to be intense with the entry of BJP MLA and former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy into the political scene of Ballari district. Since the BJP has never won this segment, it is adopting every tactic to wrest the seat from the Congress in the bypoll.
The saffron party got a shot in the arm when the Supreme Court relaxed the ban on Reddy’s entry into the district. Reddy still enjoys wide support in the district, and the party is certainly betting on his popularity. To take an active part in the poll campaign, the mining baron has rented a house in Sandur, holding a housewarming ceremony on Friday.
However, Congress leaders quipped that the house will be permanently shut down after the poll. Focusing on winning the Sandur bypoll and retaining a strong grip on Ballari, Reddy recently promised party workers that bypoll victory will be dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the other hand, Congress leaders, who were not much active, got a jump-start with Ballari Rural MLA and former minister B Nagendra getting bail in the Valmiki Corporation case. Nagendra is the main force that can counter Reddy in the district, said political pundits.
Reddy said, “My stay in Sandur is not restricted to the bypoll. I will continue to be here because the taluk lags in developmental works. The taluk being the mining hub of the state generated thousands of crore in revenue. But MLA E Tukaram did not carry out any development work. Now it’s time to change the party and support the BJP candidate.”
Nagendra said even if Reddy had built a palace here, people will still support Tukaram. “I am sure that after the bypolls, Reddy will lock his house as Sandur people will send him back.”