‘Opponents chose criminal way’: BJP’s G Janardhana Reddy on Ballari clash

BENGALURU: BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy on Friday condemned the Ballari clash outside his residence, alleging the other side brought goondas, petrol bombs, and stones. The clash between supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA G Janardhana Reddy over a banner led to one man being shot.

Janardhana Reddy blamed Bharat Reddy’s supporters for taking a “criminal way,” asserting such violence is unprecedented in Karnataka and claiming public support remains with the BJP due to its development work.

Janardhana Reddy said, “The public saw the development work carried out by the BJP. They are not in a position to do even a small amount of work. So the public is totally against them. They are frustrated. They chose the criminal way…Why do you want to put the banners at my residence in front of my house, and why do you bring all the ‘goondas’ with the private gunman with the petrol bombs, stones? This kind of incident has never happened in Karnataka before”.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On Ballari clash, BJP MLA G. Janardhana Reddy says, “…The public saw the development work carried out by the BJP…They are not in a position to do even a small amount of work. So the public is totally against them. They are frustrated…They… pic.twitter.com/T6bXMZNdkP

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026

Janardhana Reddy’s remarks came after the supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and his supporters clashed outside the latter’s residence in Ballari over the installation of banners for an upcoming event on January 3 to install the Valmiki statue. Two groups got involved in hand-to-hand combat and stone-pelting, and later firing, prompting police to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, police said.

Earlier on Friday, the police seized five guns that were allegedly used during the violence in Ballari on Thursday night. ADGP Law and Order R. Hithendra told the media that five guns have been seized from five private gunmen at the site.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he had asked for an enquiry into the clash outside BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy’s residence in Ballari, in which one person was killed. Home Minister G Parameshwara also said that he has ordered an enquiry into the clash outside BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy’s residence in Ballari, in which one person was killed. (ANI)