We’ve not discussed the return of Janardhan Reddy to the party, says Bommai

Neither he has made any statement on this, according to the Chief Minister

“The BJP is not discussing the issue of the former Minister G. Janardhan Reddy’s return to the party as of now,” Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said in Hubballi on Friday.

He was responding to a query on speculation that the BJP will induct the former Minister before the coming Assembly polls.

“I do not think the party has discussed the issue of the return of Mr. Janardhan Reddy to the BJP. I think he has not made any statement about this either. However, he has a long-standing relationship with the BJP and he has been very active in the State for many years,” he said.

Reacting to KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar’s statement that the BJP will get not more than 65 seats in the State, he said that it is the Congress that will fare badly in the elections and not the BJP.

“The Congress will be defeated decisively in the coming Assembly polls. It will lose so badly that it will not win more than 65 seats. It is possible that Mr. Shivakumar is talking about the electoral prospects of his own party,” he said.

On the other hand, the BJP’s prospects are great. “We are strong at the grassroots and our strength is growing,” he said. “We have the support of voters and workers at the booth level and it is our biggest asset,” he added.

“The BJP will return to power with a higher majority. People of the State are impressed with the performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre and the pro-people governance of B.S. Yediyurappa and our government,” he said.