KRPP founder Gali Janardhana Reddy confident of coming to power in 2028
Gangavathi (PTI): His outfit may be taking baby steps in Karnataka's political arena dominated by BJP, Congress and the JD(S) but mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy is confident his newly floated party will grow big enough by 2028 to catapult him to the ruling saddle, as he tests the waters with the electoral debut of his Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha in the ensuing elections to the state Legislative Assembly.
A former BJP minister, Janardhana Reddy, who had severed ties with the saffron party and floated KRPP in December last year, said he has not launched it with the objective of becoming CM right away in 2023.
"I am patient. We will build a solid foundation in 2023 and by 2028 we will come to power on our own strength, with a thumping majority," he said.
When asked if he aimed for Chief Minister's post, Reddy said "aiming for CM's post--that's not the thing (now). But, when I floated the party...you can understand. But, yes my target is 2028 elections, and Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha will form the government in Karnataka on its own then," Reddy told PTI.
Janardhana Reddy, asked on the reason for floating KRPP, said public have confidence in him because "they know whatever I commit, I will fulfill it."
"Earlier I had worked for BJP. How I served the people they know very well. So based on that today public have lots of expectations from me. So, I have started my own party", Janardhana Reddy said, amid the hectic ongoing election campaigning.
Karnataka votes on May 10, with the results slated to be declared on May 13.
He said the KRPP is contesting in 47 constituencies and "our target is that we will win in at least 25 seats".
Janardhana Reddy, who is re-entering Karnataka's electoral politics from outside Ballari district, is contesting the upcoming Assembly polls from Gangavathi in Koppal district. He exuded confidence that he is going to win by thumping majority from Gangavathi.
He has been barred by the Supreme Court from entering Ballari in Karnataka and Anantapur and YSR Kadapa districts in Andhra Pradesh in connection with illegal mining case.
Whether seeks to be a king maker, Janardhana Reddy said it depends on the results and will be known on May 13.
When asked whom he would support, the BJP or the Congress in the event of a hung Assembly, "whoever supports my party's agenda like the promises I made to the public from my party, whoever supports...I will go with them," Janardhana Reddy said.
He said some parties indulge in politics based on caste and religion.
"We want to be away from such things. Our party is guided by the principles of Basaveswara (12th Century philosopher) for the establishment of an equitable and welfare state", he said, adding "both Congress and BJP are our rivals".
In the 2008 assembly elections, when the BJP fell short of a majority by a few seats, he was among those who played a key role in "Operation Kamala"- by ensuring defection of other party MLAs and their re-election on saffron party ticket which helped BJP form a government on its own in Karnataka for the first time, under the leadership of party strong man B S Yediyurappa.
Janardhana Reddy had been inactive politically for nearly 12 years now, since the time he was arrested by the CBI for his alleged role in the mining scam.
"Unfortunately, I had to be away from people for 12 years because of political conspiracies. It was due to the conspiracies there had been a situation for the past 12 years that I was (kept away)," he claimed.
According to Janardhana Reddy people in Karnataka had hope from the BJP that it will do works for the betterment of people. "But BJP failed to fulfill it".
People have seen the rule of both BJP and Congress and now want a new party which they can trust upon, Janardhan Reddy said adding "not only North Karnataka, Kalyana Karnataka, People from across Karnataka have belief in me".
Janardhana Reddy further said his wife Aruna Lakshmi, who is contesting the polls from Ballari city assembly segment against his elder brother G Somasekhara Reddy, will also win by huge majority.
When asked about what does he feel about his wife contesting against his brother-- a political fight between family members, he said, "We don't think who is the opponents it is an electoral fight".
Ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls, the J P Nadda-led party had disassociated itself from the mining baron, with the then BJP national President Amit Shah stating that "BJP has nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy."
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SC issues contempt notice over scurrilous allegations against Telangana HC judge
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued contempt notices to a litigant and his lawyers for making "scurrilous allegations" against a sitting judge of the Telangana High Court in their plea.
The top court, while issuing the show cause notices to the petitioner and his lawyers, refused to allow withdrawal of the petition, and said, “We cannot permit judges to be out in a box and allow any litigant to make such allegations against a judge. Here we were trying to protect lawyers.”
A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a transfer plea filed by petitioner N Peddi Raju filed through advocate-on-record Ritesh Patil.
The petition involved a case in which Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had received relief from a high court in a matter under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“Here we were trying to protect lawyers, but this kind of conduct cannot be condoned,” the bench, which earlier heard another suo motu case pertaining to summoning of lawyers by the ED for rendering legal advice, said.
“Scurrilous allegations have been made against the sitting judge of Telangana High Court. It has been held (in a judgement) that it is not only a litigant but also a lawyer who signs (the petition) is guilty of contempt of court.
“We thus issue notice to Peddi Raju as well as the lawyers … and the AoR. They are directed to state why contempt should not be initiated against them. Notice returnable on August 11,” the CJI said.
A counsel sought the liberty to withdraw the remarks after the court expressed strong displeasure. However, the bench dismissed the request.
“File apology …we will see whether to consider or not. We will see the apology is genuine or not. When we expressed displeasure at the language, liberty was sought to withdraw. We dismissed the request,” the bench said.
The case stems from the Telangana High Court's decision to quash a criminal case registered against the chief minister under the SC/ST Act.
The petitioner later approached the top court with a transfer plea, alleging bias and impropriety on the part of the high court judge.
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared on behalf of the chief minister.
