MUDA Scam Fallout: Is Congress Clipping DK Shivakumar's Wings?

Bengaluru: Amid the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the allotment of 14 sites to his wife, Parvathi, by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), an internal rift has escalated within the Karnataka Congress with intense lobbying for the Chief Minister’s position taking a center stage. 

Sources familiar with the matter told Republic Kannada that Satish Jarkiholi, a close aide of CM Siddaramaiah and Minister for Public Works,  rushed to Delhi for an urgent meeting with the Congress high command, heightening speculations about an impending power tussle. It has also come to light that Siddaramaiah sent Jarkiholi to Delhi, possibly to strengthen his position within the party as the battle for leadership intensified.

Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, is said to have urged the party high command to consider the views of the MLAs in making decisions about leadership, indicating that the power struggle may not be easily resolved.

Congress Clipping Shivakumar's Wings? 

Sources also told Republic Kannada that the Congress party is considering the appointment of a Dalit or backward caste leader as the next Chief Minister. This possibility has sparked further internal debates, with multiple factions vying for influence. 

Recently, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, a prominent Dalit leader, met at Parameshwara’s residence to discuss the political landscape following the alleged MUDA scam. Shivakumar, who played a crucial role in the Congress 's success in the 2023 Assembly elections, has harboured ambitions of ascending to the Chief Minister’s position. However, with the latest developments, it seems the Congress high command is keen on clipping Shivakumar’s wings. 

Dr Parameshwara, a former KPCC chief, has also long aspired to the top post. He has frequently highlighted the challenges Dalit leaders face in securing the Chief Minister’s position, questioning why it has remained out of reach for him and others like Mallikarjun Kharge, despite their extensive political credentials.

'Won't Resign'

Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah reiterated that he would not resign from his position based on the ‘false accusations’ of the opposition parties. He said he would present the actual position before the people of the state.

“If the opposition parties demand (my) resignation based on false accusations, should I resign? We will reply to the false charges. We will tell the truth to the people,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

Reacting to a query on hectic political activities within Congress where Dalit and scheduled tribe leaders were meeting after the MUDA site allotment case came to light, Siddaramaiah said people are speculating unnecessarily.

"Ministers will discuss but should you speculate?"

“Ministers will discuss but should you speculate? People speculate when state Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi meets the AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge or Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju meets some minister. In the past too such meetings took place and are still going on but why such speculations are gaining credence?” Siddaramaiah wondered.

There is mounting pressure from the opposition parties on Siddaramaiah to resign from his post after a special court ordered the Lokayukta police on September 25 to investigate him in the MUDA site allotment case.

Accordingly, the Lokayukta police on September 27 registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others. The order of the Special Court came a day after the High Court upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah. The ED has also registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by police, against the Chief Minister over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the MUDA.

MUDA Takes Back 14 Sites

The MUDA decided to take back the 14 plots allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife, following her decision to relinquish their ownership and possession. The MUDA has ordered the cancellation of the sale deed of these plots, its Commissioner AN Raghunandan had said.