The Congress Party has strongly backed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amidst rising pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over allegations related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The controversy has intensified following the Governor’s approval for prosecuting Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged scam, which is estimated to involve Rs 4,000 crore. The Congress decries the move as a politically motivated attack against a “backward-class Chief Minister” and has denounced it as a conspiracy.
Congress Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar addressed the issue at a press conference, declaring that Siddaramaiah will not yield to any pressure to resign. “There is no question of him resigning. He will continue in the post. We will fight this legally and politically,” Shivakumar asserted. He characterized the sanction for prosecution as a violation of the law and a deliberate attempt to undermine Siddaramaiah’s administration.
State Minister Priyank Kharge echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of misusing the Raj Bhavan to disrupt a democratically elected government. He criticized the Central government for allegedly provoking a constitutional crisis to serve political interests, asserting that the Congress remains steadfast in its commitment to the Constitution.
Congress MLC BK Hariprasad suggested that the legal actions against Siddaramaiah stem from a political vendetta following the BJP’s disappointing performance in recent elections. He claimed that the BJP’s attempts to destabilize democratically elected governments are being met with resistance, reflecting the public’s disapproval of such maneuvers.
In response, the BJP has ramped up its criticism, demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation to facilitate an impartial investigation. Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra accused Siddaramaiah of obstructing justice and described the scandal as a substantial corruption case involving Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore. Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also lambasted the Congress, alleging that the party has turned Karnataka into a “loot party” and an “ATM” for its interests and those of its leaders.
The MUDA land scam centers on a 3.16-acre plot in Kesaru village owned by Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi. The land, which was acquired by MUDA for development, allegedly resulted in an unfair allocation of 14 premium sites to Parvathi in Vijayanagar as compensation. Critics argue that the allocated land had a higher value compared to the original plot. In response to the controversy, the Congress government has set up a single-member inquiry commission led by former High Court Judge Justice P.N. Desai to investigate the allegations.
