Bangalore: Intimate friends Janardhan Reddy, Sriramulu headed for a split?

Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 12: If some political sources are to be believed, there is every chance that Janardhan Reddy and Sriramulu, who have always stayed together through thick and thin over the last decades, are heading for a split.

The Reddy camp is reportedly realizing that its association with Sriramulu is no more a profitable proposition. Loosing sheen of Sriramulu, who was hitherto perceived as having a huge following among the people of north Karnataka, is said to be the reason behind the heart change.

Sriramulu had spent huge amount of money in the local bodies election which was held last month, for strengthening his BSR Congress. However, the party faced utter defeat at almost all places, and the party could not retain hold even in Raichur, Bellary, and Koppal districts, where Sriramulu and Reddy brothers are perceived to be having a stronghold.

It is learnt that Janardhan Reddy’s brother and Karnataka Milk Federation chairman, Somashekhara Reddy, and Kampli MLA, Suresh Babu, are mulling the prospects of fighting the assembly election as independent candidates. Both have distanced themselves from the BJP, and were supposed to join BSR Congress.

Sriramulu’s failure to keep up his popularity, and his failure to garner people’s support for the party in spite of spending huge funds in undertaking the state tour through private planes, helicopters, and luxury cars during the recent election, have made many leaders to do a hard rethinking on their future political moves.

Janardhan Reddy, who also used to extend financial support to Sriramulu’s political activities, is said to have been advised against doing so by his close aides and family members. Janardhan Reddy is already mired in protracted legal problems. His brother and former minister, Karunakar Reddy, too is said to have advised Janardhan Reddy to use legal mode to come out of the crisis he has been facing, as he is unlikely to get any political clout out of his association with BSR Congress. Sriramulu is reportedly incensed at the decision of Janardhan Reddy to stop financial support for his activities, and therefore, in all likelihood there will be an inevitable split, sources guess.