With the men in the Reddy camp either behind bars or facing threat of imprisonment, their wives are reportedly getting ready to take over the reins and keep their support base intact. Wife of imprisoned former minister, Janardhan Reddy, Lakshmi Aruna, wife of imprisoned Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) chairman and Bellary city MLA, Somashekhar Reddy, Vijayamma, and wife of jailed Kampli MLA,
T.H. Suresh Babu could step in and take care of their husbands’ political careers, according to sources.
While Mr Janardhan Reddy has been in jail for over 11 months now, charged with illegal mining by the CBI, his brother Gali Somashekar Reddy and 29-year old Suresh Babu are in a Hyderabad jail in the cash-for-bail scam in which a CBI judge allegedly granted bail to the mining baron for monetary favours.
Lakshmi is reportedly planning to play a key role in the BSR Congress Party, floated by close associate of the Reddy brothers and Independent MLA B. Sreeramulu.
“She may assume the post of honorary president or working president of the party in the absence of her jailed husband,” say sources. Although accused in the Associated Mining Company case, Ms Lakshmi Aruna is out on bail and, it is believed, could play a significant role in reviving her husband’s political career which has taken a beating since he was arrested for illegal mining by the CBI.
She appears to have already set the ball rolling by calling a meeting of the former minister’s supporters at her residence on Sunday.