Nitin Gadkari’s visit to Reddy brothers questioned

BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s conciliatory gesture of attending the Varamahalakshmi puja function of the Reddy brothers has raised many eyebrows in the party.

The need to make this trip is being questioned as Gadkari had earlier laid down the strategy that the party should distance itself from the Reddy trio and had also ensured that they were not a part of the new Sadananda Gowda ministry.

Gadkari’s visit drew a sharp reaction from the Congress as senior party leader Shakeel Ahmed observed that the BJP president has confirmed what the Congress has been saying all along.

“We have all along maintained that the national leadership of the BJP is not only aware of the scam, but actually blesses it. This incident also exposes their double standards about political morality.”

But sources close to Gadkari said that party president’s decision to share the dias with the Reddy brothers was to convey the message that they have not been dumped altogether. So when the Reddy brothers met Gadkari to persuade him, he softened his stand and decided to go for the annual event.

Leaders in Gadkari camp believe it is a tough call for the BJP to ignore. In addition to Yeddyurappa, the Reddy brothers remain the BJP’s main stay in Karnataka, given the financial clout they wield. Though BJP showed some resolve to keep them out of the Gowda cabinet, it was always clear they will have to handle Reddy brothers carefully to keep their government in power.