The Congress party cannot escape by saying that the issue of corruption is being raised against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with malice. Governor Thawarchand Gehlot had ordered an inquiry against Siddaramaiah, his wife and some other family members on the allegations of land scam in Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which has also been approved by the High Court. It was Siddaramaiah who had gone to the High Court against the Governor’s order, but the High Court rejected his petition saying that he has benefited and hence this matter should be investigated.
After the High Court order, Siddaramaiah is adamant that he will not resign. The party is also supporting him out of compulsion. He may even go to the Supreme Court but now it is unlikely that the alleged scam in Muda will not be investigated. So, if there is an investigation, then the Congress will have to decide about Siddaramaiah.
The reason for this is that it is not yet decided who will investigate the case. Usually, under the anti-corruption law, the state’s vigilance department investigates. If the vigilance investigation takes place, then Siddaramaiah should definitely resign because how will his agency investigate against him while he is the Chief Minister and if it investigates, will it have credibility? If he remains the CM and the vigilance is given the investigation, then someone will go to the High Court and get approval for a CBI investigation. If the CBI investigation takes place, the Chief Minister’s problems will increase further. Then, during the investigation, it is possible that he may not have to resign, but after that, if the results of the investigation come against him, then the problems will increase further.
But one problem for Congress is that investigation is already going on against Siddaramaiah’s number two i.e. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. In such a situation, making him CM is also not free from danger. But if a third person is made CM, then there is less chance that DK Shivakumar will work with him. That is why this land issue has become a bone in the throat of Congress.