BELLARY: Janardhan Reddy, MLC and president of the BJP's Bellary district unit, who has levelled a graft charge against the Chief Minister, is a new entrant to active public life. Till 2002-2003, Mr. Reddy was never an office-bearer of any political party and headed the Ennoble Group, a non-banking financial institution here. However, he was considered a "kingmaker" in his circle.

He was nominated president of the district unit only about two years ago. A founder member of a daily, "Ee Namma Kannadanadu", he was recently elected to the Legislative Council.

Mr. Reddy, accompanied by his close associate Sriramulu, Minister for Tourism, and others joined the BJP in 1999 and managed to get party ticket for Mr. Sriramalu to contest from the Bellary City Assembly Constituency.

Then Mr. Reddy and his associates began taking up people's cause.

Mr. Reddy also took advantage of BJP leader Sushma Swaraj's annual visit to Bellary by organising mass marriages under the leadership of Mr. Sriramulu.

Mr. Reddy has also developed close contacts with senior party leaders at the State and national level. L.K. Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister, attended a colourful function organised by him last year.

Till the entry of Mr. Reddy, the BJP's popularity was limited to a few pockets of the district. But they strived and brought around people to the party fold with the visit of Ms. Sushma Swaraj adding strength to their endeavours.

Their efforts began showing results when the party took control of the administration of the Bellary City Municipal Council in 2002 and ruled for a full five-year term.

Mr. Reddy's brother G. Somashekar Reddy served a 30-month term as municipal vice-president and later became municipal president.

He became Mayor when the council was upgraded as corporation.

From then, there was no looking back for him and the party. In the 2004 elections, the party succeeded in clinching the Bellary Lok Sabha seat, which was held by the Congress since 1952, and also won three of the eight Assembly seats. Mr. Reddy's elder brother G. Karunakar Reddy is the MP.

Under Mr. Reddy's leadership, the party has also gained control of the administration of the Bellary Zilla Panchayat and also four taluk panchayats of the seven in the district.

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