Bengaluru, Mar 25: After merging his party with the BJP, marking a major political development in Karnataka going into the Lok Sabha elections, Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) leader and mining tycoon G Janardhana Reddy on Monday said he was happy to be back with the party that he considers his 'home'.

Speaking to reporters after being formally inducted into the BJP on Monday, Reddy said, "In the interest of the country and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid to return to office for a third straight term, I chose to return to the BJP. It does feel good to be back home. I will faithfully discharge whatever responsibility the party vests in me. I will campaign for all our Lok Sabha candidates (in the state)."

Earlier, on Monday, Reddy merged his party with the BJP and was ushered into the party fold along with his wife, Aruna Lakshmi, in the presence of BJP state chief BY Vijayendra.

Reddy said he would work to make Narendra Modi PM for a third term.

"I have merged my party with the BJP and will work, henceforth, as a BJP worker to make Narendra Modi return as PM for the third time," Reddy told reporters, adding that he returned to the BJP without setting any terms or lobbying for a post.

Responding to Reddy's return to the BJP, former chief minister and Ligayat stalwart BS Yediyurappa said the development has come as a major shot in the arm for the party going into the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, the veteran BJP leader said, "G Janardhana Reddy and his wife have joined the BJP. It is a good decision, and I welcome him back into our fold. His decision will boost our party's prospects going into the Lok Sabha elections. We will win all 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka."

Earlier, before joining the BJP, Reddy called on Yediyurappa at his residence along with his family.

Reddy was a state minister in the previous Yediyurappa-led government before he was jailed in the alleged mining scam.

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Out on bail since 2015, he had been keeping his distance from the BJP.

In 2022, he launched his onw partt, 'Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha'. He contested the 2023 Karnataka assembly polls and won from the Gangawati assembly constituency.

His brothers, G Karunakara Reddy and G Somashekara Reddy, who contested last year's Assembly polls as BJP candidates, lost.

Karnataka, which has 28 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in two phases--on April 26 and May 7.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and JDS fought together against the BJP but was still decimated. The BJP had won a record 25 seats while the Congress and JDS won one seat each.

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.

(ANI)

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