Accused in a multi-crore unlawful mining case, former BJP minister Janardhan Reddy has been out on bail since 2015. After being politically inactive for almost 12 years since he was arrested by the CBI in 2011, he launched the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha earlier than the election. As a number of situations have been imposed by the apex court docket in its order, Janardhana Reddy has introduced that he’ll contest from Gangavathi meeting seat in Koppal district, exterior his turf in Ballari. Accused of making an attempt to separate the BJP votes, in an interview with Arun Dev, Reddy mentioned that he’s open to supporting anybody who will assist his ballot guarantees.
Simply months earlier than the elections you’ve got launched a political occasion, what’s your most important motive behind launching the occasion?
Our occasion’s image is soccer. It represents actuality. Once I was in politics earlier, I used to be handled like a soccer by everybody, regardless of whether or not they have been my very own or my enemies. Now I’ve entered the election to show that I can also play soccer with everybody.
You have been one of many leaders that helped the BJP develop in north Karnataka however now you’re accused of spilling votes from the occasion.
I’m contesting alone and my competitors is each Congress and the BJP. We’ve got fielded candidates in 55 seats the place we imagine I’ve goodwill and are assured of successful these seats.
Will you assist BJP or the Congress if you’re occasion wins any seats?
Whoever agrees to assist the assurances I’ve made within the manifesto, if they need my occasion’s assist, I’m prepared to present it. However for now, the main target is on elections.
Are your instances a problem to getting good candidates on your occasion?
I didn’t should ask folks to contest from my occasion. Folks, who’re conscious of the work I’ve performed, have come to me to contest from my occasion. We’ve got good candidates.
A tweet by B Sriramulu inviting the folks to take part in a programme by your occasion had gone viral. It even led to speculations that you’re associates even now.
I used to be advised it was a mistake from his finish. We’re politically separate although we’re actually good buddies.
What are your most important ballot guarantees?
We’ve got introduced a ₹15,000 capital assist yearly for farmers with lower than 5 acres of land, 9 hours of steady free energy provide for farmers each day, Arogya Shree well being cowl to these whose annual earnings is lower than ₹5 lakh, ₹2,500 per thirty days monetary help for ladies who run the home, 250 models of free energy to each family, ₹2,500 month-to-month unemployment allowance to jobless youth. Different guarantees embrace 2BHK homes within the title of girls for households with out homes and a rise in sure social safety schemes.
The final time you turned an MLA, you had the assist of a serious political occasion. What’s your technique this time?
The goodwill is what I’m relying on. All the nice work I’ve performed for the folks prior to now will end in votes for me. Folks could not speak brazenly about it however wherever I’m going, folks all keep in mind how I’ve helped them. This love will get me votes.
If you are speaking about goodwill, a court docket has given orders to file a contemporary legal case towards you in reference to a mining case.
I’ve seven instances (19 as per his election affidavit) filed towards me. These instances have been filed greater than 10 years in the past. Regardless that I’ve petitioned the court docket to fast-track these instances and listen to them on a day-to-day foundation, they (investigating businesses) usually are not agreeing to it. They don’t wish to do it as a result of there isn’t any case. They arrested me and stored me in jail for 4 years. Why was in stored in jail for 4 years with out bail? Wasn’t it a political vendetta?
Regardless of the findings within the report by the Lokayukta and the discovering by the opposite businesses, are you claiming there was no illegality in your mining operations?
Paperwork filed earlier than the courts can be found. Verify them. There isn’t a case.