Siddaramaiah – Karnataka CM Land Scam

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faces a significant legal setback that could potentially lead to his prosecution in a land scandal that might bring down his administration and destroy his illustrious political career.

The governor’s order from August 16 that sanctioned action against Siddaramaiah for “unlawful” distribution of 14 home plots to his wife Parvathi in Mysuru was denied by the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday.

Many referred to the Chief Minister’s “MUDA muddle” as the MUDA (Mysore Urban Development Authority) land scam case, and Siddaramaiah was hoping for a good decision.

The Delhi leadership of the ruling Congress party is finding it difficult to contain the damage as Siddaramaiah is receiving calls for his resignation.

The Chief Minister has resisted calls for his resignation, claiming he will prevail in the legal battle. In addition, he has charged that the Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP are plotting to undermine the Congress administration.

Given his precarious position, his internal opponent and deputy, DK Shivakumar, who has never concealed his desire to be chief, may pose the largest challenge to him.

Legal Options with Siddaramaiah

The lone judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna stated in its ruling that it was hard to believe Siddaramaiah was not “behind the curtain” during the MUDA land deal, from which his family was purportedly to have benefited to the tune of about ₹ 56 crore.

“The petition’s facts would definitely necessitate an investigation, considering that the petitioner’s wife is the primary beneficiary of all these acts,” Justice Nagaprasanna said, approving Governor Gehlot’s authorisation for prosecution under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 218 of the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

The pleas of campaigners TJ Abraham, Pradeep Kumar SP, and Snehamayi Krishna resulted in the Governor’s approval. The court judgement permits the three RTI campaigners to request an investigation from an anti-corruption organisation like the Karnataka Lokayukta police.

An investigation into the claims by the Lokayukta has now been mandated by a Karnataka Special Court.

Siddaramaiah has the option to appeal Judge Nagaprasanna’s ruling to a higher bench of the High Court or the Supreme Court. His legal counsel is considering its possibilities.

Congress’s Dilemma – Siddaramaiah

This issue serves as a litmus test for the political acumen of the Congress leadership. It invites further attacks from the opposition if it asks Siddaramaiah to step down. If it doesn’t, it forfeits its moral superiority and positions itself for political unrest, with Siddaramaiah serving as a possible catalyst.

For the Congress, it is a high-wire act because any forced leadership change might sour relations with Siddaramaiah’s base of support, the AHINDA electorate (a Kannada abbreviation for Minorities, OBC, and Dalits).

Party MLAs are more in favour of Siddaramaiah than Shivakumar. But Shivakumar is going to pose problems if the Congress decides to explore a third alternative. Shivakumar is currently openly endorsing Siddaramaiah in the sake of “unity.”

He said that the cases were a “conspiracy of the BJP” against rival parties across the nation. Also stated that the party “stands with Siddaramaiah” on Tuesday.

According to those close to the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah is a fighter and has the support of the upper echelons of government. And that he will never yield to “intimidation or conspiracy” or give in.

The controversy has caused the Congress to lose ground in Karnataka, a state it won last year, as accusations of corruption have taken centre stage instead of governance. Siddaramaiah’s legal disputes will cause the government’s social welfare programs to be mishandled and neglected.

“Siddaramaiah will remain chief minister for the time being. The issue of who will be the next prime minister might not come up.

But there’s a chance there may be internal party strife,” political expert Harish Ramaswamy says.

“As for the Congress party, the question is how it controls its cadres and MLAs at this time,” he stated.

Opposition Joyful

Still stinging after he lost in the 2023 state election. The opposition BJP is making loud demands for Siddaramaiah’s dismissal and an unbiased CBI probe. JD(S), the party’s ally in Karnataka, is likewise overjoyed. The JD(S) called Siddaramaiah a “Whitener Ramaiah” with “black spots” of corruption on social media.

A chastened Siddaramaiah coming under fire from a resurgent opposition means that the High Court ruling may have far-reaching effects in Karnataka.

At a press conference in Bengaluru shortly after the court’s ruling on Tuesday, opposition leader R Ashok and BJP state president BY Vijayendra demanded that Siddaramaiah resign.

“I implore the chief minister to uphold the legal system in light of the High Court’s ruling. It validates the accusations of corruption. The Governor issued the order to prosecute, and the High Court has affirmed it. Moreover, the son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, BY Vijayendra, the head of the BJP in the state, stated, “It is now time for Siddaramaiah to resign from his position as chief minister.”

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The short-term effects might be felt by the Congress, but long-term planning is necessary.

In the impending by-elections, the opposition is expected to hold a significant advantage in three seats: Channapatna, where HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) was the current MLA; Shiggaon, which Basavaraj Bommai of BJP departed; and Sandur, which E Tukaram of Congress vacated. In June, all three of them were elected to parliament.

“Depending on how much the opposition uses the court ruling to its advantage, the damage to the Congress party will become apparent very quickly. “Let’s see who is winning this political fight,” Ramaswamy says.

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the Author. Opinion of the reader can be different.

Shubhangi Gupta

Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.