BENGALURU: Earlier this month, social activist Snehamayi Krishna alleged that Siddaramaiah and nine others forged documents with Siddaramaiah’s wife involved.
The political landscape in Karnataka has been shaken as BJP President BY Vijayendra has called for the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision to grant permission for Siddaramaiah’s prosecution in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam.
Vijayendra has asserted that Siddaramaiah’s resignation is crucial for ensuring a transparent and unbiased investigation, as well as for upholding the dignity of the Chief Minister’s office. In a statement posted on X, Vijayendra said, “The Governor has exercised his constitutional powers to authorise legal action on the MUDA scam complaint against the Chief Minister. Given the substantial evidence and serious allegations of corruption and favoritism within the Congress government, it is crucial that the Chief Minister steps down.”
The MUDA scam involves allegations of forgery and misuse of land documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. Siddaramaiah, however, has maintained that “everything was done according to the law” and has received support from his party and the state cabinet. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar echoed this sentiment, condemning the prosecution sanction as “politically motivated” and vowing to challenge it in court.
Shivakumar accused the BJP of using the Governor’s office to destabilize the state government. “We stand with CM Siddaramaiah. The entire state, the party, and the Cabinet stand with him. We will fight it legally and politically as well. This is nothing but a clear conspiracy against a backwards-class CM,” Shivakumar said.
In response to the Governor’s decision, Congress leader MB Patil has accused the BJP of “bad politics,” claiming the Governor’s action is part of a larger conspiracy to undermine Siddaramaiah. Patil criticized the Governor for allegedly acting as a “puppet of the central government,” and pointed out that similar requests for prosecution of other political figures had been ignored for over eighteen months.
On the other hand, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has insisted that Siddaramaiah must resign to ensure an impartial investigation. Surya highlighted the seriousness of the allegations and the need for the Chief Minister to step down to maintain the principles of natural justice.
The Karnataka government has stated that it will challenge the Governor’s action in the High Court. The legal battle is expected to intensify as both parties prepare for a protracted confrontation.
Earlier in the month, a complaint by social activist Snehamayi Krishna had alleged that Siddaramaiah, along with nine others, forged documents to claim compensation from the MUDA. The complaint also implicated Siddaramaiah’s wife, BM Parvathi, in the alleged scam.