Sriramulu to meet Janardhana Reddy over floating new party

Former Minister B Sriramulu, along with three of his supporters, today left for Hyderabad to meet the jailed former minister G Janardhana Reddy to give shape to his idea of floating a new political party in Karnataka.

BJP MPs Sanna Fakirappa and J Shantha, who is Sriramulu's sister and MLA Somashekhar Reddy are accompanying him to meet Reddy, who has been lodged in Chanchalaguda Central Prison for
his alleged involvement in illegal mining.

After taking oath as an MLA in the assembly earlier in the day, Sreeramulu had said he would visit Hyderabad to get the blessings of Reddy before making his next political leap.

Before taking oath, Sriramulu took out a padayatra and garlanded Mahatama Gandhi and BR Ambedkar's statues. As many as 200 buses brought hundreds of Sreeramulu's supporters to take part in the padayatra.

Speaking to reporters, Somashekhar Reddy, youngest brother of jailed Reddy, dared the BJP-ruled government in the state of taking action against him for campaigning for Sriramulu in the just-concluded Bellary by-poll.

He said he would not respond to the showcause notice issued to him and rather would quit the party if asked. State BJP President KS Eshwarappa had served notice to Somashekhar Reddy seeking clarification on campaigning for Sriramulu.

"I will not respond to the showcause notice ... I would rather quit before BJP takes any action against me," he said.