Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 28: Varaprasad Reddy, a real estate businessman by profession, who was the general secretary of district Congress unit and a strong follower of energy minister, D K Shivakumar, and his brother, MP, D K Suresh, crossed over to BJP in the presence of state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, on Sunday August 27.

Reddy, who had fought the last Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike election from Uttarahalli ward as a Congress candidate, had tasted defeat. During the recent income tax raids on Shivakumar and Suresh, residence and offices of Varaprasad Reddy too were raided. It was said that cash amounting to six crore rupees was found during the raid.

But the BJP, which has mounted pressure on Shivakumar relating to the said raid, duly demanding for his resignation, on the other hand, has welcomed his close associate, Varaprasad Reddy, with open arms. Many have said that this shows the double standards followed by the saffron party.

Addressing party workers after welcoming Reddy into the party fold at a function held in the party office on Sunday August 27, Yeddyurappa said that survey is on to choose suitable candidates for the coming assembly election, and asked the party activists to wholeheartedly work for the victory of party candidates chosen by the party without nurturing individual loyalties.

"As the election approaches nearer, more and more leaders from different parties will be joining us. To achieve our 'Mission -150' target, everyone should strive for the victory of party candidates as per the instructions of party leaders. In order to expand the party base, we need to put in more efforts towards bringing more leaders from scheduled castes and tribes into the party," he felt.

"Karnataka happens to be the last bastion for Congress in the country. If we are able to bring down this corrupt government, we can realize the dream of India that is free from the clutches of Congress,which is the dream of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and party president, Amit Shah," he stated.

MLA and BJP general secretary, C T Ravi, clarified that Varaprasad Reddy is not a people's representative and hence, in case I-T raid had happened, he can pay tax and penalty as per rules and set right the records. In the case of raids on ministers, as they are answerable to people, our party is fighting for his resignation, he said, justifying the party line.

Retired police officers, Dharmaiah, and M P Narayanaswamy, too joined BJP on this occasion. In-charge of state BJP affairs, Muraleedhar Rao, union minister, D V Sadananda Gowada, and others were present.