Step aside for now, former Speaker tells Siddaramaiah

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Congressman and former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad has called upon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to tender his resignation. Koliwad made the comments to TV9 on Thursday, triggering a backlash from the CM’s Cabinet colleagues. The former Speaker was referring to corruption allegations against Siddaramaiah in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) case in which the CM’s wife Parvati received 14 plots, allegedly of higher value than the land she lost to Muda. On August 16, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot granted sanction to probe Siddaramaiah in the case.

In response, the CM approached the Karnataka High Court with a plea to reverse the sanction. On Tuesday, the court rejected Siddaramaiah’s plea. Koliwad reasoned that since elections were coming up in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, Siddaramaiah should step down so Congress can save face. “I would like to say that Siddaramaiah, who has a clean image and the support of 136 MLAs should resign for now. This is to ensure that the party doesn’t feel embarrassment in the upcoming elections. I’m sure that after the elections, he will come out clean (in the probe). Then, he can become the Chief Minister again,” Koliwad said. “He has the backing of 136 MLAs, all ministers and the high command. He will become the Chief Minister again.

So to avoid embarrassment to the party and in the interest of the outfit, it would be prudent for him to resign for now,” he said, adding that the BJP was “misusing” the graft allegations against the CM. However, Koliwad insisted that be believed Siddaramaiah was guiltless and a good head of government besides. “This is a political plot of the BJP and JD(S).

They made a few private persons file complaints,” he said. “Siddaramaiah’ administration is efficient and honest. He has always done work that is pro poor and in favour of Backward Classes. He has always pursued clean politics without any black mark. Now, they are trying to smear him,” he added.

Not disciplinary committee Chair: DKS

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar rejected Koliwad’s demand, addressing the misconception that Koliwad was the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Disciplinary Committee Chairman. “He (Koliwad) is not the Disciplinary Committee Chairman. That post is held by Rahman Khan. There is no need to resign. It is a political conspiracy, which we will face both politically and legally,” he said. Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet colleagues also dismissed Koliwad’s demand. “That may be his personal opinion. The party, the Cabinet and the high command stand by Siddaramaiah,” Information Technology and Bio-Technology Minister Priyank Kharge said.

Rebellion within Congress: BJP

Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the Assembly R Ashoka alleged that there was a rebellion in the Congress, besides multiple CM aspirants. “There are seven to eight persons who are jockeying for the CM’s post even in Delhi. There is a growing demand in his own party that Siddaramaiah should resign. In the near future, there will be rebellion in their party,” he said.