Bangalore:
The Reddy brothers of Bellary - and their friends - are known for their flamboyance. So even in these troubled times, a moment of cheer will not go without celebration. Today, it was the swearing in of B.Sriramulu as an MLA, an Independent one. His supporters thronged Bangalore to cheer him into the Karnataka Assembly.
Earlier this week, Sriramulu - a former minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet of the BJP that bowed out in the wake of illegal minining allegations earlier this year - won his seat, Bellary Rural, back very convincingly. The ruling BJP is red-faced. Sriramulu quit the party when the Reddy brothers that he is loyal to were sidelined and sought re-election from his constituency as an Independent. The BJP candidate came in third, after Sriramulu and the Congress candidate, and even lost his deposit.
Sriramulu's mentor G Janardhana Reddy is in jail. But despite the Reddy's falling foul of the BJP leadership after being charged with illegal mining in the resource-rich Bellary, several BJP MLAs had campaigned for Sriramulu. They were suspended from the party for that.
But after being re-elected, Sriramulu said he was not out to get the government. "Should I form a regional party or not? Whose help should I take for this. After touring the state I will decide. We are not against the government. People have given full mandate - they can rule for five years. We cannot disturb the government."
In the Assembly today, Sriramulu made it a point to greet his former party colleagues in the House, including B.S. Yeddyurappa, former chief minister.