Karnataka CM regrets giving powers to Reddy brothers, Sreeramulu

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka on Friday expressed its regret about granting political powers to the Reddy brothers of Bellary.

"We regret giving powers to three ministers in Bellary. People here are now facing anxious moments. There have been some mistakes on our part too. We will not allow such things to recur in the future," Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said.

Reddy brothers -- Janardhana and Karunakara -- and their loyalist Sreeramulu, contesting as an independent in the by-poll to Bellary rural assembly segment, have "misused" powers given by the party and its government, Gowda told reporters.

"We regret giving them such powers. Such mistakes happened due to political and other reasons," Gowda said but did not elaborate.

Gowda flayed Sreeramulu for threatening to wipe out the BJP from Bellary district.

The chief minister's remarks came after the party issued show-cause notices to three members of Legislative Assembly -- G Somashekara Reddy, B Nagendra, H T Suresh Babu and member of Legislative Council Mruthyunjaya Jinaga -- who have thrown their weight behind Sreeramulu.

The legislators have been asked to reply to the notices within three days, failing which they would be expelled from the party's primary membership, state BJP president K S Eshwarappa told reporters in Bellary.

The BJP leadership will also initiate action against two MPs, J Shantha, sister of Sreeramulu and Sanna Fakirappa, Eshwarappa said. The four legislators and two MPs have been actively campaigning for Sreeramulu.

Sreeramulu is contesting as an independent after resigning as a BJP MLA for being denied a ministerial berth in the wake of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining which had indicted him, the Reddy brothers and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Janardhana Reddy is lodged in a Hyderabad jail after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a case of illegal mining.

The Reddy brothers wielded tremendous clout in the state and had even launched a campaign to oust Yeddyurappa when the Karnataka strongman was the chief minister. Yeddyurappa withstood their onslaught but had to quit in the wake of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.