Date:12/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101254600500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Janardhana Reddy suspension revoked

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Sending out a strong political signal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday revoked the suspension of its MLC and mine owner from Bellary Janardhana Reddy.

According to sources in the BJP State unit, the decision to revoke the suspension of Mr. Reddy was taken by the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee in Delhi.

Sources in the party said that by revoking the suspension of Mr. Reddy, who had launched a campaign against Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda and the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the BJP leadership clearly indicated that it would not approve any realignment with the Janata Dal (S).

Mr. Reddy had been suspended from the party on July 17, 2006 when he embarrassed the party by levelling mining bribery charges against the then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on the floor of the Legislative Council. Later, Mr. Reddy had submitted a 26-page response to the party State unit which had sought a report from him. The response had been forwarded to the party central disciplinary committee which was looking into the issue. Now, the committee had revoked the suspension.

It is the timing of the revoking of the suspension that had caused curiosity in political circles.