Fresh trouble in BJP, Fmr minister Sreeramulu rebels

Sreeramulu, himself a mining baron and one of the close aides of Bellary mining magnets-- Reddy brothers-- convened a meeting of his supporters and MLAs and MPs of the district to discuss and decide on future political course.

Sources close to Sreeramulu, elected from Bellary Rural Assembly constituency, claim that the former minister might announce his resignation tomorrow at a press conference scheduled in Bangalore.

At the meeting attended by BJP MLAs Nagendra,G Somashekara, one of the brothers of Reddys, Neminath,Chandra Naik, besides, former minister G Janardhana Reddy, MLC, Sanna Fakeerappa, MP from Raichur, Bellary MP, J Shanta and several supporters of Sreeramulu at his residence.

Rumours also milled that Sreeramulu was contemplating to float a regional party, but sources close to him refuse to confirm it. Yesterday,Sreeramulu had dropped a hint that he would spell out his future political moves in a couple of days.

Apart from Sreeramulu, Janardhana Reddy and his brother G Karunakara Reddy were upset after the BJP high command did not favour their inclusion in the ministry led by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, in the wake of a Lokayukta report indicting them in illegal mining.

The powerful Reddy brothers, who weilded control over Bellary district administration, have been facing crisis after loosing power. Meanwhile Gowda,who is completing one-month in office tomorrow, declined to react to Sreeramulu's statement.