- The Grand Old Party assumed power in Karnataka after successfully winning the assembly election on the back of fighting the deep-rooted corruption charges against the then Bharatiya Janata Party. Apart from the tall claims of fighting corruption, the five guarantee schemes announced by the party played a huge role in ensuring the Congress gets elected with absolute majority. As you know, Siddaramaiah led the Congress’s spirited fight in the electoral battle and was rightly appointed as the Chief Minister with DK Shivkumar being his deputy. We know how the Lok Sabha election results did not go the way Congress expected, and the BJP had the last laugh since its core base could not be breached/dented on expected lines.
PC: India Mart
- Ever since the Congress government took on the mantle, the BJP was leaving no stone unturned in cornering the Siddaramaiah’s administration. Remember, the Congress’s electioneering targeted the alleged corruption in the previous BJP government which gained huge traction with the electorate. However, a slew of alleged corruption cases involving ministers and the CM himself duly unearthed by the BJP against the ruling dispensation appears to have had a palpable effect on the governance and the people alike. Especially the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case where alternative sites were allotted to the CM’s wife had the BJP going full throttle claiming the CM himself is involved in a multicrore corruption scam.
- Notably, the Governor of Karnataka granting permission for prosecution against the CM based on a complaint received placed the CM in a piquant position. As is its wont, the political slugfest ensued. Of course, the ruling dispensation did cry foul with the usual refrain from how the Governor’s office is being misused with the ceremonial head crossing the propriety of not abiding by the cabinet’s decision. The matter was referred to the Karnataka High Court with both parties claiming falsehood and political vendetta. The general public has heard enough and knows of all this routine mudslinging match between the political leaders. Interestingly, the single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court has found no fault with the Governor’s decision to grant prosecution.
PC: Business Standard
- Expectedly, the Congress party, MLAs, and the cabinet colleagues of the CM rallied behind him extending unstinted support. However, the opposition BJP and the JD(S) will be further buoyed by the court ruling to pin down the CM and the ruling government with renewed vigour going forward. Most importantly, the ensuing byelection to some key assembly segments will offer the opposition parties to mount fresh challenges against the government. The Congress High Command will be worried about the eventual outcome if the corruption allegation against the CM gains even more traction. The CM will be facing mounting challenges and pressure from different quarters. Will he emerge unscathed in the days ahead? The time will reveal.
