BJP, Congress ministers attend mining baron Janardhana Reddy's daughter's lavish wedding

Brazilian dancers, helium balloons featuring images of the family, lavish replicas of elephants, a 50-item menu for non-VIPs and a more extravagant spread of 100 items for VIPs served on a banana leaf… These were just some of the highlights at former BJP minister G Janardhana Reddy’s daughter Brahmani’s wedding, even as the rest of India lined up outside banks and ATMs to get their share of Rs 100 notes. [caption id=“attachment_3110110” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Gali Janardhan Reddy, (C) is seen on the big screen with his daughter Brahmani (2R) and son-in-law, Rajeev Reddy (2L) during their wedding in Bengaluru. Getty Images[/caption] The former mining baron’s daughter’s five-day wedding to Rajiv Reddy took place at the sprawling Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The wedding was held with such pomp and splendour with huge sets replicating the Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, the seat of the glorious erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, and Tirumala Tirupati temple were erected at the venue, along with the replica of the homes of both of bride and the groom. The first glimpse of the garish and ornate wedding was seen when the invitation came in a box with an LCD screen playing a video, where Reddy and family were seen inviting guests, lip-syncing to a song. [caption id=“attachment_3110112” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] The bride and the groom. YouTube/RVR PRO[/caption] Reddy and family dressed up as “royals” in gold and diamond had left no stone unturned for the wedding. Most utensils for the wedding rituals were either gold or silver and entire venue was equipped with air conditioners. While overflowing fountains added to the glitter, orchids and other ornamental flowers were arranged fancily. Around 50,000 people had been invited for the wedding and people were also ferried from Reddy’s bastion, mine-rich Ballari. The who’s who of the Kannada and Telugu film industry attended the wedding ceremony and wished the newlyweds. [caption id=“attachment_3110138” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] From the wedding ceremony. YouTube/RVR PRO[/caption] Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Energy Minister DK Shiva Kumar, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa  were among prominent leaders who attended. Congress ministers such as DK Shivakumar, HK Patil and Ramalinga Reddy, reports The Times of India , attended the ceremony, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was conspicuous by his absence as he had reportedly fought a “political battle” against the Reddy brothers. Reddy, 49, a former minister with BJP in Karnataka, spent three years in jail for his alleged involvement in a mining scam before he was released on bail last year.

The wedding is reported to have cost around  Rs 550 crore . [caption id=“attachment_3110142” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] A photo from the wedding ceremony. YouTube[/caption] “Reddy has hired about 3,000 bouncers and security guards to prevent media and activists like me from barging into the venue,” said Murthy, adding he had petitioned local tax authorities to investigate. Amidst all this opulence, The Hindu reported that, some guests at the wedding were so “disappointed with the return gifts” — saplings of tulsi and sandalwood — that they picked up more than one bag to take home.

With inputs from agencies