Reddy's homecoming to BJP unlikely

Despite former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy’s desperate bid to return to the BJP as an active member ahead of next year’s Assembly polls, the party top brass has strictly told the state leadership to keep him at a distance till the businessman comes clean in illegal mining cases.

The party top brass also told the state leaders to ensure that any of the leaders involved in mining scam should not be seen at the party platform and certainly not participate in any organisational activities.

 Reddy was behind bars from September 2011 to January 2015 on account of the charges he was facing in mining scam.

 Party leaders believe Reddy's attempt to get back into the party is to make himself relevant around the time of elections. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a clear stand against corruption, the BJP should be cautious in dealing with such characters, the top brass told the leaders.

 The central leaders also reminded their state counterparts that the Opposition parties had targeted the BJP in Parliament when some of its local politicians attended the gala marriage of Reddy’s daughter, last year.