6 MLAs enjoy BJP hospitality
By Our Correspondent
Bengaluru
May 28: The six independent MLAs, who have declared support for the proposed BJP government, are enjoying the "five-star hospitality" of the powerful Bellary-based Reddy brothers at a hotel in the city. The BJP leaders, who are not too keen on revealing their whereabouts, have declared that they have been taken to Nepal and from there to Ahmedabad. Reliable sources, however, confide that they are very much in the city and were at a guest house of the Reddy brothers in the city for a day. The next day, they were shifted to a three-star hotel on the Raja Rammohan Roy Road and later to a five star hotel on the Sankey Road.
Varthur Congress, P.M. Narayanaswamy, Venka-taramanappa, D. Sudhakar, G.D. Shekar and Shivaraj Tangadagi are the fortunate lot who have been in the limelight after they submitted affidavits extending support to the BJP. Sources in the BJP said that these MLAs had set some demands when party leaders approached them on May 25. The deft handling of the issue by the Reddy brothers is said to have clinched the deal in the BJP’s favour.
Mr Venkataramanappa, who is said to have demanded the water resources portfolio, gave in when the others decided to support the BJP.
When approached first by the party leaders he was persuaded to make pragmatic demands and not unrealistic ones.