Janardhana Reddy calls on Congress leader, Vijayendra aide in Gangavathi

KOPPAL: Former minister G Janardhana Reddy, who recently announced his new Kalyana Rajya Pragati Party (KRPP), may be looking to cut into both the BJP and Congress votes, if initial indications are anything to go by.

Reddy, who arrived in Gangavathi on Tuesday for the first time after announcing his new party, has started his ground work. What raised eyebrows is his meetings with leader of other political parties to woo them.

On Tuesday, he met visited Vanaballari village and called on Kuruba community leader and Congressman Hanumanthappa Arasakeri. He also visited the Channabasappa Swamy temple and later announced that he will declare the party candidates after January 16.

Interestingly, he also visited Krishna Dhalabanjan, a Kshatriya community and BJP leader, Narendra Modi fan and supporter of senior leader B S Yediyurappa and state BJP vice-president B Y Vijayendra. There are 15,000-20,000 Kshatriya voters in Gangavathi.

Reddy also met Kshatriya community leader Krishna Dhalabanjan at the latter’s house.

While stating that he has no grouse with the BJP, Krishna said he will support Janardhana Reddy in a personal capacity, noting that the times have changed.

On his part, Janardhana Reddy, who has declared that he will contest from Gangavathi, said he will visit Bengaluru and enter the Legislative Assembly only after he is elected. He also brushed aside speculation that he may merge his party with the BJP later on or shift back to Ballari.