Now, Under-Fire Karnataka CM Faces ‘Quit’ Calls From Within His Party, Congress

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is fighting tooth and nail for survival after a trial court ordered filing of charges against him in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam.

Opposition parties JD(S) and BJP reiterated their call for the CM’s resignation soon after a Special court on Wednesday directed a Lokayukta police probe against Siddaramaiah, setting the stage for filing of an FIR against him.

Now, even his own party is asking Siddaramaiah to step down.

Five-time Congress MLA and former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad has urged the chief minister to step down so that the grand old party doesn’t face further embarrassment.

“He can be chief minister again after he clears this blemish… this is my personal request,” the 79-year-old Congress veteran said.

“This is what I think. There are two judgements… one by the High Court and other by the People’s Court. Under such circumstances, this situation is being utilised by the Opposition parties. Yesterday itself Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) spoke (on Siddaramaiah issue) in Haryana,” he said.

“So, to avoid this, I request Chief Minister to resign. After he clears this blemish he can return… after all, he is supported by all MLAs and Congress high command,” reasoned Koliwad, who happens to be president of Congress’ state disciplinary committee.

The Karnataka CM, who will face an inquiry into claims that his wife, Parvathi, was allotted multiple plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere — an exchange that allegedly cost the state losses of at least Rs 4,000 crore — taken for infrastructure projects.

Siddaramaiah has denied the charge and dismissed talk of resigning, pointing out that he has not been convicted yet.

“Why should I resign? (JDS leader and former Chief Minister) HD Kumaraswamy is on bail. Did he resign? In an inquiry stage, how does resignation arise?” the CM questioned.

May be only a diktat from the high command in New Delhi will prompt Siddaramaiah to resign.