Speaking at a public meeting at Ambedkar Circle in Kampli during the BJP’s Ballari Chalo padayatra, Reddy said he would work to make Ballari a BJP stronghold once again.

“The BJP should win all the Assembly constituencies in Ballari in the next election. I will make every effort for this. Ballari should become a stronghold of the BJP,” he said.

Reddy sought to remind voters of the BJP government’s contribution to Kampli, pointing to the four-lining of roads, establishment of an ITI and polytechnic college and the government hospital in the constituency.

He said the ITI had been started with the specific aim of preventing young people from Kampli from having to migrate to other places in search of opportunities.

“We had provided a four-lane road, ITI and polytechnic college and a government hospital to Kampli. We started the ITI so that the youth here would not have to migrate to other places,” he said.

Reddy also invoked the long-standing support extended to the BJP by people in Ballari and neighbouring districts and thanked them for standing by the party over the years.

“For a long time, the people of Ballari and the surrounding districts have supported the BJP. I will repay the debt of your love until my last breath,” he said emotionally.

He referred to the cases against him and said he had been jailed for four years and kept away from Ballari for 14 years after being subjected to what he described as baseless allegations.

“They thought the story of Janardhana Reddy was over. If they thought that because I was not in Ballari they could say or do anything they wanted, they were mistaken,” he said.

Reddy also referred to the CBI court judgment in a case against him and said the verdict had stated that the state exchequer had not suffered even a rupee of loss because of him.

He appealed to voters to support the BJP in the next election as they had done in 2008 and urged them to ensure the victory of Suresh Babu.

Taking aim at the Congress, Reddy said the party was now facing the consequences of defeating former minister and Valmiki community leader B Sriramulu in the election.

He alleged that former minister B Nagendra had looted funds meant for the Valmiki community and used the money for the Goa and Telangana elections.

“The Congress is now experiencing the consequences of the sin of defeating Sriramulu, a leader of the Valmiki community, through deceit. Congress had made Nagendra a scapegoat in the Valmiki Corporation case. Congress is responsible for this, not the BJP,” he said.

Reddy also recalled former Union minister Sushma Swaraj’s association with Ballari, saying her connection with the district went beyond electoral politics.

He recalled that Swaraj had contested the Lok Sabha election from Ballari against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. While Sonia Gandhi returned to Amethi after winning the election, Swaraj, he said, continued to maintain her bond with Ballari.

“She not only supported Janardhana Reddy and Sriramulu, but also visited Ballari every year. That is the culture of the BJP,” he said.