Summary:
Reddy has since then stayed in Benglauru but kept up efforts to regain relevance in state politics. This helped him establish an iron grip on mining and politics in Ballari. Under pressure, Yeddyurappa ordered a Lokayukta probe. Active support from former Andhra Pradesh CM Rajashekhar Reddy helped Reddy expand his empire.Reddy’s grip on the BJP in Karnataka was on display when he herded more than 60 BJP MLAs to a Hyderabad resort and made Yeddyurappa bow before him to remain chief minister.Around the same time, allegations of illegal mining by OMC started to surface. Reddy’s entourage, dozens of high-end cars and his helicopters reminded people of the district of the larger-than-life characters of Telugu cinema.He announced the setting up of two steel plants, one in Ballari, another in in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district where he owned Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC)..