Setback to Congress Govt in Karnataka | J P Gadkari

The 15-month-old Congress Government in Karnataka with a very comfortable majority of 136 members out of total 220 member State Assembly is facing one of the worst crises not because of the massive BJP-JDS opposition campaign but with the Karnataka Governor taking an extra-constitutional and illegal action by giving permission to prosecute the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with three private persons complaining against him.

In an extra Constitutional move , Thaawar Chand Gehlot, the Governor of Karnataka has given permission for prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam. This is a huge setback to Siddaramaiah Government in the State which he and his entire Cabinet has described as a conspiracy to destabilise the 15-month-old Congress Government in Karnataka.

It appears that the Governor has taken this decision based on the private complaint made by three persons who are not directly affected or connected with the MUDA allotment.

The alleged scam involves MUDA "illegally" alloting 14 sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife purporately as compensation after the authorities acquired their originally held land which was deemed as encroachment

The Governor’s notice issued to Siddaramaiah sanctioning his prosecution stated that State Government had itself "accepted" that there was a " big ticket scam" in allotment of sites by MUDA. It had also constituted a committee under a IAS officer following the appointment of a commission headed by a retired High Court judge to enquire into the matter.

This forced Siddaramaiah to call an emergency meeting of his Cabinet which described the Governor’s action as " illegal" and "unconstitutional" and decided to fight it "legally and politically". Meanwhile the BJP-JDS opposition has demanded immediate resignation of Siddaramaih on "moral ground".

One of the three private complainants T J Abraham has declared that he would now approach the Special court dealing with corruption cases requesting it to take cognisance of the Governor’s sanction for prosecution of C M.

Meanwhile, labelling the Governor’s decision as "anti-constitutional and against law" Siddaramaiah has said that he will challenge the Governor in the court and said "It is a huge conspiracy to dislodge the elected Government" in the State. He accused the Central Government of being a part of this conspiracy.

The Karnataka High Court has meanwhile restricted the Special court not to proceed with the prosecution case against Siddaramaiah till the next date of hearing till 29 August.

With one of the complainants approaching the special court for prosecution of Siddaramaiah and the Chief Minister filing an appeal in the Karnataka High Court to quash the Governor’s prosecution order, it is going to be a no holds barred political battle between the Opposition and the ruling party in Karnataka in the coming weeks.

August 20, 2024