Mr. Reddy was a minister in the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government
Bengaluru:
Mining baron and lone MP from Karnataka Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) G Janardhana Reddy on Sunday said he would join the BJP on March 25.
The KRPP founder said he had taken the decision to appoint Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the third time.
“After consulting my supporters, I have taken the decision. Tomorrow at 10 am, I am joining the BJP,” he told reporters.
Mr Reddy said he would support BJP candidate from Ballari Lok Sabha constituency B Sriramulu, whom he termed as a boy raised by him.
Mr Sriramulu, a former minister, lost the 2023 Ballari Assembly segment election.
Mr. Reddy was a minister in the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government and was jailed in connection with a mining scam.
He distanced himself from the BJP and founded the KRPP.
In the 2023 assembly elections, he was instrumental in defeating his two brothers, G Karunakara Reddy and G Somashekara Reddy, who were BJP candidates from Harapanahalli and Ballari City respectively.
Mr. Reddy fielded his wife Aruna Lakshmi against his brother and BJP candidate Somashekara Reddy in Ballari town and ensured his defeat. Congress candidate Nara Bharath Reddy won from there.
In the February 27 Rajya Sabha elections, he supported the Congress.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)