'Governor Didn't Act In Haste': Karnataka HC Blow To Siddaramaiah Prompts Ouster Calls, Conspiracy Charge

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday demanded Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation after the High Court dismissed the Congress leader’s plea challenging the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction to prosecute him in the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.

Delivering the verdict, the single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that the order of the Governor on August 17 approving the investigation and sanction for “prosecution of the Chief Minister in MUDA was not taken in haste”. The court further observed that the complainants were justified in registering the complaint and seeking approval from the Governor.

Reacting to the judgement, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya took to X and said that the Chief Minister now has no option left but to resign. “After Karnataka High Court dismisses Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s plea, challenging probe in MUDA scam, the Congress leader has no option but to step down,” Malviya said.

‘Siddaramaiah Must Step Down’

Demanding CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Union minister Prahlad Joshi said that Congress had alleged that the Governor was biased, but now the court has given the verdict. He further demanded CBI investigation into the alleged scam.

“BJP never intends to topple the state government. Let them choose a leader and make Chief Minister. Congress government must continue but Siddaramaiah cannot continue to be the CM,” Joshi asserted.

Karnataka BJP president and son of former CM BS Yediyurappa, BY Vijyendra, welcomed the High Court’s order and stated that allegation against Siddaramaiah are serious in nature. He added that Siddaramaiah should resign and respect the High Court’s order.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also asked the Congress party whether is it tenable for CM Siddaramaiah to continue after the verdict of the Karnataka HC in the MUDA case.

“The Congress party must tell us after the verdict of the Karnataka High Court is it tenable for CM Siddaramaiah to continue? Siddaramaiah must step down. He looted the land which was meant for people from the SC/ST community. Rs 5000 crore worth of corruption was done in the MUDA scam. Family and friends of Siddaramaiah benefitted…Congress party does not care about the people from the SC/ST community…Will Rahul Gandhi take action on the ‘bhrashtachar ki dukaan’,” he said.

Congress Stands With Siddaramaiah

Soon after the BJP launched an attack on Siddaramaiah following the High Court’s verdict, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that he stands with the Chief Minister and alleged a “political conspiracy” against him by the BJP.

“Whatever be the decision on ordering the investigation, so far as we are concerned, the Chief Minister has not committed any wrong. We are with him. The BJP is unable to tolerate the many programs he has brought for the people so this conspiracy. What is the setback? Let us see,’ he added.

Responding to BJP demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “Let the Opposition say whatever it wants. What happened with their leaders in the past? Let their investigation also happen. No question of CM’s resignation.”

MUDA Case: All You Need To Know

In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife BM Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been “acquired” by the MUDA.

The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.

Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. Some Opposition leaders and activists claimed that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land.