A simple two-storeyed house in the parched plains of Hanagal, a few kilometres from Molakalmuru town in Chitradurga district, is abuzz with activity.
Election campaigners, mostly BJP volunteers, from the Molakalmuru assembly segment and the neighbouring Ballari district make a beeline here.
They introduce themselves as BJP supporters and ask the security guard if “saheb” is at home. They are asked to wait.
A fortnight ago, when the poll scene in gathered momentum, the infamous mining baronturned-politician Gali Janardhana Reddy shifted his base from Bengaluru to this house in Hanagal.
With the courts barring him from entering Ballari — about 30 km away – the prime accused in the ₹16,500-cr iron ore mining scam, is here to support Molkalmuru’s BJP candidate B Sreeramulu.
Reddy’s rented house in Hanagal, with BJP flags all around, sees at least 4,000-5,000 visitors a day.
Embarrassed by negative feedback from voters over Reddy’s return to politics and sharing the stage with party chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, the BJP high command has reportedly asked Reddy to stay low-profile.
