Reddy arrest: Cong targets BJP; Jagan in trouble

New Delhi: The Reddy brothers of Bellary are known to have strong political clout not just in Karnataka but in Andhra Pradesh as well. Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Jagan Mohan Reddy's father late YSR Reddy had once even reportedly campaigned for the Reddy brothers who were BJP candidates in Karnataka.

Now, the arrest of G Janardhan Reddy, observers believe, may be aimed at weakening Jagan who's on the offensive against the congress.

"Why are you asking me? Ask Karnataka, ask the BJP," said Jagan Mohan Reddy.

But despite the denial the allegations of the link between Jagan Mohan Reddy and Reddy brothers remain hard to defend.

The Reddy brothers are believed to have received the backing of Jagan when they rebelled against Yedyurappa in 2010, and the arrest of Janardhan Reddy comes at a time the CBI seems to be closing in on Jagan Reddy the Congress's biggest rival in Andhra Pradesh.

With the CBI filing an FIR against Jagan now, the son of the late YSR was seen lobbying with the Opposition leaders for support against what he called was a political witch-hunt.

"I am thankful to the BJP," said Jagan Reddy.

Meanwhile in Delhi, the Congress is using the Reddy brother percieved porximity to Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj to target the BJP.

"Sushma Swaraj and Venkaiah Naidu's business links with the Reddy brothers should be probed," said Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh.

Reacting to Singh's comments, Sushma Swaraj said, "I welcome Digvijaya Singh's demand that my association with Reddy brothers should be probed, only then truth will come out and I will get justice. I am putting on record that I have no commercial association with Reddy brothers."

The real worry for the BJP in Karnataka is the stability of its government. So, the party, despite its campaign against corruption, cannot afford to alienate the Reddy brothers who control at least two dozen MLA's in the state. But it's clear that the stakes are just as high in Andhra Pradesh as well.

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