Will Siddaramaiah Resign? What Next for Karnataka CM After MUDA Verdict

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed Siddaramaiah's plea challenging the governor's order to investigate him in the MUDA Scam. Does this mean that the Karnataka CM will now resign from his position? Here's what we know so far…

Will Siddaramaiah Resign After Karnataka HC Dismissed Plea in MUDA Scam?

In a major setback to the Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah, Karnataka High Court dismissed his plea challenging the Governor's order to prosecute the Karnataka CM in the MUDA Scam. Does this step by the High Court lead to Siddaramaiah's resignation from his post? Here's is his first reaction:

Siddaramaiah has said that he will discuss the matter and seek legal opinion adding they will not be scared of BJP and JD(S) conspiracy as well as that of the Governor's office. Siddaramaiah added that the high command and party is backing him.

“On my writ petition, the High Court has given the verdict. The Governor gave sanction for prosecution and I questioned this in the High Court. After the arguments, the verdict was given today and I have seen that through the media. I am yet to read the whole judgement and I will give full details later,” he said.

"It is not a prosecution. I will discuss with legal experts & ministers how to fight this, and take a further call. We will not be scared of BJP and JD(S) conspiracy, as well as that of the Governor's office. People have blessed us. I have their blessing. I also have the high command and party leaders backing me," Siddaramaiah added.

"Today, the High Court passed an order. I have seen the orders through the media. I am yet to go through the judgment of the High Court. After going through the judgment, I will react both legally and politically... I will discuss with the legal experts, my cabinet colleagues, party and the High Command - what action to be taken legally will be spelt out... BJP is trying to dislodge our govt through money power and Operation Kamala but they could not succeed. I am not afraid of the conspiracy hatched by BJP & JD(S) as people are with our party, me and also our govt. Whatever futile exercise they made, to dislodge our govt, it is not possible for them...," the Karnataka CM said.

Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP ) has demanded the resignation of Siddaramaiah as he will be prosecuted in the MUDA Land Scam Case now. 

BJP Demands Siddaramaiah's Resignation

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter), the BJP Karnataka wing said, “If Siddaramaiah has any respect for the law of this land, for the constitution, for the court, he should not continue his corruption and bow down to the court's decision and resign from the post of CM immediately.”

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "The high court's dismissal of Siddaramaiah's plea has made impossible and untenable the continuation of Siddaramaiah ji as chief minister of Karnataka for even a minute more. The chief minister has lost all moral and ethical authority and right to continue as head of government in Karnataka. The Congress 'scam sarkar' is neck deep and is engulfed and encircled with allegations of blatant corruption."

‘There Is No Question… He Is Not Involved With Any Scam’: Congress on Siddaramaiah's Resignation

On the question whether Siddaramaiah will resign or not, Congres leader and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, “There is no question (of resignation) by CM. He has not done anything wrong. He is not involved with any scam. This is a political conspiracy by the BJP ...We stand by him, we support him. He has been doing a good work for the country, party and state. I am telling you again, there is no setback to the CM. It is a big conspiracy on all our leaders, including me which we have faced earlier. Didn't I come out clean?...So, we will fight it out. We respect the legal system of this country. Injustice will not be flown from the seat of justice. We will get justice.”

Panic Among Siddaramaiah's Aides After Karnataka HC Verdict

Following the Karnataka High Court verdict in the MUDA Scam, against Siddaramaiah, there is panic among the close aides of the Karnataka CM; the Ministers close to the Chief Minister are likely to hold a meeting on the future developments and discuss about the high command's move.

Karnataka High Court Dismisses Siddaramaiah's Plea in MUDA Scam

In a setback to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed his petition challenging Governor's approval for investigation against him in a site allotment case. The Chief Minister had challenged the approval given by the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for an investigation against him in the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in a prime locality.

"The facts narrated in the petition would undoubtedly require investigation, in the teeth of the fact that the beneficiary of all these acts is not anybody outside but the family of the petitioner. The petition stands dismissed," Justice Nagaprasanna ruled. He said, "interim order of any kind subsisting today shall stand dissolved."

(Inputs from PTI)