Two BSR MLAs join BJP

Two BSR Congress
MLAs, including one facing a case of alleged illegal mining, today joined the BJP.
T S Suresh Babu, representing Kampli in mine-rich Ballari district, once notorious for illegal mining activities, and Thippeswamy joined the BJP in the presence of state unit President Prahlad Joshi at a party function here.
Thippeswamy represents Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district.
Babu, nephew of Sriramulu, was arrested earlier and is now on bail in connection with an illegal mining case.
Both the MLAs recalled they were earlier in BJP and their return now was a homecoming.

BSR Congress, formed by former minister B Sriramulu by breaking away from the BJP in 2012, had bagged four Assembly seats in the May 2013 polls.

Sriramulu, a one-time close associate of Ballari mining baron Janardhana Reddy, had joined BJP earlier and resigned his Assembly membership to contest from Bellary in the last Lok Sabha polls, which he won.
BSR Congress has a fairly good following in five Lok Sabha constituencies of Ballari, Gadag, Chitradurga, Raichur and Koppal.
The entry of two new MLAs has increased BJP's strength in the 225-member Assembly to 46.
Joshi, a Lok Sabha member, told reporters that the issue of farmers suicides in Karnataka, would be raised in the coming Parliament session.
He alleged that the Siddaramaiah-government had not written to the Centre on farmers' suicides and not taken any steps to deal with money lenders who were exploiting farmers.

Joshi also alleged that the state government was protecting Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao, who is embroiled in a bribery scandal, and using him as an instrument against Opposition leaders.