Why BJP is wary of Ballari to Bengaluru padayatra called by Gali Janardhan Reddy

The much-publicised proposed padayatra from Ballari to Bengaluru, to be launched on January 17, has been put on hold after the BJP central leadership reportedly declined permission for the march while allowing a public meeting in Ballari.

The padayatra was announced in the aftermath of the January 1 violent clash in Ballari between supporters of Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy and Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, which led to the death of a Congress worker and injuries to several others.

Mr. Janardhan Reddy and former Minister B. Sriramulu had then declared that a padayatra would be undertaken from Ballari to Bengaluru to protest what they described as the ‘goondaism of the Congress’. The proposed route and halt points had been circulated through party WhatsApp groups.

However, well-placed party sources said the high command had given the go-ahead for a public meeting in Ballari on January 17 but not for the padayatra. The development is being seen as a setback to Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy and his associates, particularly former Minister B. Sriramulu, who had hoped to mobilise the party’s cadre and rebuild their political base through the proposed march.

‘Not cancelled’

“Padayatra is not cancelled, it has only been put on hold as the party leadership is yet to give its approval. The public meeting will, however, be held as scheduled,” a BJP leader from Ballari told The Hindu.

Ballari district BJP president Anilkumar Naidu sought to play down the issue, saying the agitation would be carried out in phases. “The protest is being organised in the first phase. The padayatra will be taken up in the coming days. Everything will happen phase-wise,” he said.

Meeting on January 17

Meanwhile, N. Ravikumar a BJP leader and MLC, on January 16, told the reporters in Ballari that the decision on the padayatra would be taken at the party’s Core Committee meeting scheduled for January 17.

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra attributed the delay to organisational issues at the national level. “The delay is caused by the ongoing process of appointing the BJP national president. Personally, I am not opposed to any padayatra by party leaders in Karnataka. But we want to avoid confusion, as happened during an earlier padayatra to Mysuru. All such programmes must be brought to the notice of the central leadership,” he told reporters in Belagavi on January 16, adding that he would discuss the matter with central leaders during his visit to New Delhi on January 19-20.

Local factors

Political observers, however, believe the leadership’s reluctance stems from concerns over the optics and political implications of the padayatra. They point out that the Ballari violence was less a clash between the Congress and the BJP, and more a confrontation between local rival leaders Nara Bharath Reddy and Janardhan Reddy, who have been at odds for several years.

According to them, the BJP leadership is wary of allowing Mr. Janardhan Reddy, who continues to face legal scrutiny in illegal mining cases, to project himself as a frontline leader through a high-profile padayatra.

Apparently, the party is also keen to avoid being projected as antagonistic to the Valmiki community, which has a significant presence in Ballari and neighbouring districts, as the violence was triggered after supporters of Mr. Janardhan Reddy allegedly tore down banners put up by Congress workers to publicise the proposed unveiling of a statue of Maharshi Valmiki.

Published – January 16, 2026 03:44 pm IST