NEW DELHI: Siddaramiah faces mounting pressure and potential legal challenges, boosting rival D.K. Shivakumar’s position, as the High Court delays action in the MUDA case.
The Congress party in Karnataka is facing a crisis, with pressure building up on its current chief minister, Siddaramiah, whose prosecution the Governor has sought in the MUDA scam. According to experts, Siddaramiah’s failure to secure a stay at the Karnataka High Court raises the question of, if he can continue in office if an FIR is filed against him.
The focus of investigating agencies on Siddaramiah is also seen to have shifted the balance of power within the party, giving more leverage to his rival D.K. Shivakumar, who has actively pursued the chief minister’s position. However, the High Court on Monday asked the concerned trial court not to take any precipitative action against Siddaramaiah based on the governor’s sanction in the MUDA ‘scam’, till the next date of hearing before the High Court.
To add to the backdrop, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot had sanctioned for prosecution of Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged illegalities in allotment of sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in lieu of her land being taken over for constructing housing sites.
A senior Congress legislator close to the leadership said, “Things are not good because there are complaints and counter complaints, BJP is also haunted by dissidents and Congress also has got problems. Moreover, the Lokayukta issued a notice to D.K. Shivakumar, who was questioned for nearly two to three hours. Congress in turn, has filed a complaint with the governor to prosecute H.D. Kumaraswamy also in the 2007 case relating to the 100 acres of mining land.”
Moreover, KPCC president Shivakumar, according to sources, met Satish Jarkiholi, an influential Congress leader in the state and held a private discussion for more than 30 minutes. Also, the meeting was held in the absence of aides from both sides. If the chief minister gets replaced, according to party insiders, Shivakumar may need the support of Jarkiholi in case he falls short of adequate numbers. Moreover, analysts indicate that this may be an attempt by Shivakumar to show beforehand that he has the support of the majority of legislators and he should undoubtedly be the one who deserves to ascend to the top position. A leader privy to the developments said, “If Shivakumar wants to be the chief minister, Jarkiholi’s backing is crucial as he controls around a dozen legislators in the state.”
A senior Congress leader said, “Some say that the current AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge could become the chief minister if things come to such a pass. But he is holding a much powerful position, and then there is Shivakumar already politicking in the state and waiting for an opportunity to get the CM’s chair. For that, he will make all his preparations.”
“He may already have made his preparations. He will keep the adequate strength of legislators ready to become chief minister. But again, it is not that easy to dethrone a sitting chief minister,” the leader added.