Bangalore: With senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj publicly disowning them and their support base within the party swiftly shrinking, life has come full circle for the Bellary Reddy brothers, whose rise in state politics and the mining business (from just being sons of a police constable) is no less thrilling than a Bollywood flick.
Not long ago, the Reddy brothers, due to their enormous money power and aggressive politics, came across as uncrowned kings in the government as well as in the state BJP. None, including Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, had the guts to speak against the Reddys, leave alone interfering in their portfolios and administration of Bellary district.
The downward trend of the Reddys had started with the sudden and unexpected death of former Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajashekhar Reddy, who patronised them for getting mining licences to start a steel plant.
Subsequent political developments pitched the Reddys directly against the AP government, thus putting their mining business in constant trouble.
The developments back home also went against them with Yeddyurappa, after being forced by the Opposition, initiating several stringent measures to curb illegal mining. The decision to ban export and transportation of iron ore further dented their business.
Meanwhile, the Reddys' support in the government has also dwindled with MLAs, including M P Renukacharya and Belur Gopalkrishna, who worked as foot soldiers for the Reddys during their infamous 2009 rebellion, switching sides. Apart from the MLAs from Bellary, Reddys now barely have any support.
In the near future, Reddys seem to be up for more trouble. For, Lokayukta is expected to give its report on illegal mining in the second week of June. If the Reddys, who have been accused of being involved in illegal mining, are held guilty in the report, that would spell doom for their political career as well.
Yeddyurappa, who faced humiliation at the hands of the Reddys during their rebellion, is also eagerly waiting for a chance to take revenge. If sources are to be believed, Yeddyurappa is all prepared to strike at the Reddys during the next Cabinet expansion, with or without the Lokayukta report pinning them down.
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