The Congress party in Karnataka has said that Chief Minister Siddharamaiah won't resign despite Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot giving sanction to prosecute the chief minister for his alleged role in the MUDA scam. The party is also planning a state-wide protest on Monday against the move.
In response to the Opposition BJP's call seeking the resignation of the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister D K Sivakumar told reporters that there was no question of Siddaramaiah putting in his papers and the Congress party and the government solidly stood behind him.
“There is a conspiracy to misuse the Governor’s office to destabilise Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka. There is no question of the CM resigning and our entire party and the government is behind him,” he said, addressing a press conference in Vidhana Soudha.
The deputy chief minister said the CM would not yield to BJP's pressure tactics. He said Siddaramaiah had the backing of the INDIA bloc and the party would fight the false allegations "legally and politically'.
His response came as state BJP leader and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje called on Siddaramaiah to step down, after accusing his wife of illegally purchasing 24 plots. "He needs to face the case," the Union Minister said.
Shivakumar said the BJP's actions reflected the Centre's inability to digest the fact that an "OBC leader has become the Chief Minister of the State for the second time." He added that the Congress was unfazed by the move. He also questioned why similar cases involving BJP leaders have not been granted permission for prosecution despite preliminary investigations being completed. “The Karnataka Lokayukta had sought permission from the Governor to prosecute Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on 23-11-2023. The same Lokayukta has sought permission for prosecution against former minister Shashikala Jolle on 09-12-2021, against Janardhan Reddy on 13-05-2024, against former minister Murugesh Nirani on 09-12-2020. In all these cases, a preliminary investigation has been completed before seeking permission for prosecution from the Governor,” the Deputy Chief Minister explained.
There is no case against me, and the Governor's decision is unconstitutional. We will challenge this illegal sanction in the court of law. From the very day the complaint was filed against me, a show-cause notice was issued. This move by the Governor was anticipated.… pic.twitter.com/n58cqizL2k
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 17, 2024
He also urged the party workers to protest against the Governor's move. In a post on 'X', D K Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, called upon his party leaders and workers to take out a kilometre-long march to the Taluk and district-level offices and submit memoranda addressed to the President of India Droupadi Murmu against the Governor's move.
The complainants in the MUDA scam alleged that Siddaramaiah misused his position to get alternative sites to his wife Parvathi in the posh localities of Mysuru by creating fake documents. The chief minister has refuted the allegations.
