Can ‘Dora’ change BJP fortunes in Ballari? Gali back in the thick of politics

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Political activities in what was once known as the ‘Republic of Ballari’ are expected to be intensify with former minister, Gali Janardhan Reddy announcing his grand reentry into Karnataka politics after a hiatus of over a decade.

At a function held in Ballari district on Sunday, the ‘dora’ (master in Telugu) of Ballari , Reddy declared his entry into state politics in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and a host of BJP leaders. Reddy wants to help the BJP win 150 seats in the 2023 Assembly polls and retain power in the state. His close friend and business partner, B. Sriramulu has already done the ground work to enable Reddy take up an active role in Ballari. After keeping his moves under wraps for months, Reddy announced his decision at a function organised in connection with Sri Ram Navami celebrations.

Reddy’s rag to riches story would make anyone go green with envy. Born in a lower middle class family, the son of a police constable got into the mining business and became an influential leader in the BJP government headed by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. He owns a palace like house, a fleet of imported high-end cars and a chopper. His political career took an abrupt twist when he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of illegal mining and sent to jail for several years. The Lokayukta report on illegal mining in the ‘Republic of Ballari’ had almost sealed his political fate and he was almost disowned by his political associates. More than anyone else, Sriramulu missed him; the duo were once dubbed ‘Ram & Lakshman’ by none other than former Union minister late Sushma Swaraj.

After nearly a decade, Reddy is making a comeback to state politics and planning to contest the next Assembly polls if the courts permit. But much water has flowed down the Tungabhadra in the last one decade. Having stayed away from the district for nearly 10 years, Reddy has to re-connect with the masses due to the emergence of new leaders. Besides, he has to find a suitable constituency to contest in the 2023 Assembly polls to test his popularity. Reddy will have to start from scratch since most Delhi leaders with whom he interacted a decade ago have either retired or are dead. The immediate challenge before the ‘Ballari Dora’ is to win the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah if he wants to contest from Ballari in the coming Assembly elections.

The next challenge will be to silence Congress leaders who claim credit for sending him to jail after marching into his fortress via a padayatra in 2009-10. It will not be easy sailing for Reddy due to the turbulence in state politics. Since the next poll battle will be crucial for the BJP, it will have to think twice on giving him the ticket as he has to come clean in the several cases filed against him. The next question: are the people of Ballari ready to accept him once again?