Daijiworld Media Network – Bellary (SP)

Bellary, Nov 28: Tapal Ganesh, a miner from Bellary, who has been engaged in a protracted legal battle against mining baron and former Karnataka minister, Gali Janardhan Reddy and his associates, joined BJP on Sunday November 27.

This came as a surprise, as Tapal Ganesh, considered to be a Congress man, was present by the side of B Ramprasad, Congress candidate from Bellary Rural constituency, when he filed his nomination for the election. Ganesh had then announced his decision to support the Congress candidate.

He joined the party in the presence of state BJP president, K S Eshwarappa. He said later that he had taken this decision in response to requests made by state Chief Minister, Sadananda Gowda, and former CM, B S Yeddyurappa. He is latest in the list of persons who have crossed over to BJP under its ‘Operation Kamala’.  In all likelihood, he sees a chance for BJP candidate to win, as Congress is a divided house in Bellary, and Tapal Ganesh’s only aim is to release the grip of Reddys in the mining activities in the district.

With this step, BJP has not only made clear its decision to end the eminence of Reddys in the party and the region, but also made Congress unhappy. Ganesh said that he joined BJP based on its assurance to permit legal mining in Bellary. 

Eshwarappa said that BJP was facing the ugly task of having to defend the Reddys who were facing allegations of wrongdoings. He said the party had made Sriramulu a minister considering his contribution to the party, but the latter failed to acknowledge this gesture. He predicted that more people from the region will be joining his party in course of time.