A violent clash between supporters of rival political factions in Karnataka's Ballari district has resulted in one death, reigniting a bitter political feud and bringing mining baron and BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy back into the spotlight. The incident, which occurred on the evening of January 1, 2026, has escalated tensions between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with both sides trading serious allegations.
How the Ballari Violence Unfolded
The confrontation originated from a dispute over a banner. Supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy were installing a banner near the palatial residence of BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy in Ballari. The banner was for an event scheduled for January 3 to inaugurate a statue of Valmiki. Janardhan Reddy's camp opposed the installation of the banner, which featured the Congress legislator's photo, leading to heated arguments.
As the altercation intensified, police personnel present at the scene fired eight rounds in an attempt to control the situation. In the ensuing chaos, a Congress worker identified as Rajashekar was killed. Initial forensic reports, as stated by State Home Minister G Parameshwara, suggest the fatal bullet was fired from a private revolver and did not match police ammunition, though analysis is ongoing.
A War of Words and Accusations
The incident triggered an immediate and fierce political blame game. Congress MLA Bharath Reddy squarely blamed Janardhan Reddy, demanding his arrest and alleging the clash was orchestrated to stop the statue unveiling. In a strong statement, Bharath Reddy said, "I am only silent because I want peace. Or else, I would have set his house on fire."
Janardhan Reddy countered by accusing the Congress MLA, his father Suryanarayana Reddy, and uncle Pratap Reddy of planning the violence. The BJP MLA claimed there was an assassination attempt on his life and has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking Z-category security. He asserted, "If you think you can do rowdy-ism in front of my house and scare BJP workers, such games will not work."
Political Fallout and Administrative Action
The Congress government ordered an inquiry and suspended Ballari SP Pavan Nejjur, who had been posted in the district just 24 hours before the clash. The government is also considering transferring the case to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). Four FIRs have been registered, naming the two MLAs and BJP leader B Sriramulu.
The political rhetoric has intensified. Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar linked the violence directly to Janardhan Reddy's return to Ballari, accusing him and Sriramulu of trying to revive the infamous "Republic of Ballari." He announced a party committee under H M Revanna to investigate and stated new regulations for gun ownership in Ballari were being formulated.
BJP's Leader of Opposition R Ashok, who visited Ballari, called the incident a conspiracy against Janardhan Reddy. Mocking the Congress, he said, "You had called it Ballari Republic. Now, you have turned it into a republic of bullets." The BJP has demanded a judicial enquiry or a CBI probe, expressing distrust in the state police.
The Reddy Shadow Over Ballari's Politics
The clash is the latest chapter in the long-standing political dominance of the Reddy brothers in the resource-rich Ballari region. Janardhan Reddy's influence, built on mining wealth and alliance with ST leader Sriramulu, propelled the BJP's success in north Karnataka from 2004 to 2011 before an illegal mining scam led to his arrest in 2011.
Although barred from entering Ballari by the Supreme Court until around October 2024, Reddy continued to exert influence. After winning from Gangawati in 2023 on his party's ticket, he merged his outfit with the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, his dominance was challenged when the Congress, led by rival Bharath Reddy, swept all five constituencies in Ballari district in the 2023 assembly polls. This recent clash underscores the ongoing and intense battle for control in this politically volatile region.
