Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah will quit soon, claims state BJP President Vijayendra

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Friday claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, facing probe in the MUDA site allotment case, will resign soon. Both Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Congress national President M Mallikarjun Kharge are also aware as to when the CM will quit, he said. He termed Siddaramaiah's reported recent statement that he will continue as CM for the full term, as an attempt aimed at garnering votes from certain communities for the November 13 by-polls for three Assembly segments. "The Chief Minister, who is an accused, is patting himself on his back. He is trying to instill confidence among legislators (Congress) that he will continue as CM, but Siddaramaiah knows what is the truth. D K Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge know when he will resign," Vijayendra said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said at the time of election, to get the support of certain communities, such statements are made. "I don't know whether it is right or not to say this repeatedly, but the Chief Minister's resignation has already been decided," he added. The opposition has been demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation, following charges against him in the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) site case. There were also behind-the-scenes political activities within the ruling Congress last month, with a few Ministers in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet holding meetings, fueling speculation about leadership change. But such activities came to a halt following instructions from the high command.

Stating that the stand of the Congress government and the Chief Minister on the Waqf issue and their conduct are being questioned by people and farmers of the state, Vijayendra said they should have responded to trouble faced by farmers. "But, under the CM's insistence, Zameer Ahmed Khan (Waqf Minister) has taken the lead in robbing land from farmers, its implications will be felt in by-polls," he said.