Reddy Bros Foresee Dissolution of Assembly

Bangalore, Jan. 17 (DC): There is growing speculation about the BJP government heading for yet another crisis with the powerful Reddy brothers reportedly dropping broad hints about the possibility of the legislative assembly being dissolved ahead of its term.

It is claimed the mining barons turned ministers are afraid of the fallout of the report of the Supreme Court appointed committee which looked into allegations of illegal mining by their Obalapuram Mining Company in Andhra Pradesh.

“The brothers are talking about the assembly being dissolved in the near future as they are convinced Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is here to stay and continuing in his Cabinet for his remaining term in office will not serve their purpose,” sources said, pointing out that it was unlikely the ministers would get to occupy greater positions of power in the government when the Supreme Court was showing so much interest in charges of illegal mining against them.

“Things were different when they had cherished dreams about occupying the posts of Chief Minister and deputy chief minister, but now when there is no such possibility and they could instead be sacked as a result of the investigation by the Supreme Court panel, they see no reason to go on as before. The ministers are aware that Mr Yeddyurappa will ask for their resignations if the apex court upholds the CEC report in the next fortnight,” they claimed.

The brothers’ reportedly first gave an indication about which way the wind was blowing when a party worker approached tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy recently for a ticket to contest the assembly byelections to constituencies vacated by the Congress and Janata Dal (S) legislators who joined the BJP in October last year to ensure the Yeddyurappa government's survival after the disqualification of 16 ruling party MLAs by the Speaker.

The minister allegedly told the partyman that there would be no by-elections to the assembly as it was heading for dissolution. While this reported comment has sparked off rumours about their intentions, sources close to the Reddy brothers denied they had any such plan in mind.

If the apex court rules in favour of the rebel legislators keeping their seats in the assembly, the BSY government will have no alternative but to dissolve the assembly as it gives the opposition ranks the upper hand; equally problematic, say sources within the BJP, is the fact that even if the court disqualifies the rebels, the BJP would be the loser in the by-elections as Congress and JD(S) votes would consolidate in favour of the rebels.