BJP legislators from Bellary call on CM

A delegation of BJP Legislators from Bellary on Saturday called on Karnatakd Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and discussed about implementation of development works in their district.

Sources in the Chief Minister's secretariat said the delegation wanted restoration of representation to Bellary district in the ministry.

After Gowda assumed office of Chief Minister, he could not induct any one from Bellary district into his ministry as the three former ministers and mining barons-- G Janardhana Reddy, G Karunakara Reddy and B Sreeramulu were kept out following a Lokayukta report on illegal mining indicting them.

The BJP high command did not accede to the demand by Janardhana for ministerial berth to his brother Karunakara and their family associate Sreeramulu and decided to keep them out of the Karnataka ministry.

In the meanwhile Janardhana and his brother-in-law Srinivasa Reddy were arrested by CBI in connection with illegal mining and have been cooling their heels in Chanchalaguda jail in Hyderabad.

Though Gowda ministry has seven vacancies, sources indicated that the BJP high command is unlikely to give nod for induction of Karunakara or Sreeramulu.

In another developemnt the resignation submitted by Sreeramulu to his assembly seat last month has not been accepted so far by the Speaker.

Besides Bellary Lok Sabha MP, J Shanta, Raichur MP, Sanna Fakirappa, MLAs-- Nemiraju Naik, Chandra Naik, B Nagendra, H T Suresh Babu were present.

Gowda told the press that issues relating to Bellary district development came up for discussion. Gowda said the state expects the Centre to come to the rescue of the state in easing the power crisis.