Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has suffered a severe blow to his reputation based on 50-year political career. Karnataka High Court dismissed his petition challenging the Governor Thawarchand Gehlot’s consent to prosecute him in connection with allotment of 14 plots to his wife Paravthi by Mysore Urban Development Authority, or MUDA.
Siddaramaiah was hoping for a reprieve from the HC in this case which has now snowballed into a big political scandal.
His lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued for days challenging the Governor’s order. However, the single member bench dismissed his petition and has upheld the order.
Political Fallout
A shocked Congress government in the state is now exploring various options for a relief. The opposition BJP and JDS have stepped up their attack on Siddaramaiah demanding his immediate resignation. The Congress high command has so far stood by him, describing the Governor’s decision as a hit job done at the behest of PM Modi to destabilise their government.
Legally, Siddaramaiah can go to a larger bench of the HC or the Supreme Court seeking a stay and scrapping of today’s order.
If he suffers a jolt even there, his position becomes untenable. However, his camp maintains that Siddaramaiah will never resign as it is a brazen attempt by the BJP-led NDA government in New Delhi to harass and taint him and his government.
Party's dilemma
His cabinet colleagues have openly expressed their firm support to him and most of them are not in a position to look beyond Siddaramaiah.
The Congress leaders feel that if Siddaramaiah offers to quit, it will have a huge adverse impact on the party and government as he is their tallest mass leader in Karnataka. He is also undisputed leader of backward castes and Muslims in the State.
Keeping the Assembly elections in four states in mind, the Congress high command is unlikely to make any decision on his continuation.
Most in the government and party want him to fight it out politically, not succumbing to the alleged blackmail tactics of the Centre.
They even cite the example of Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren in their defence.
Waiting in the wings?
There are strong rumours of his deputy DK Shivakumar is eyeing the most coveted post. However, he dismisses such rumours claiming Siddaramaiah has done nothing wrong to quit.
According to party insiders, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is upset over handling of the whole thing by the Siddaramaiah government. Apparently, he expressed his anger over the lack of strong response and mature handling of the issue.
The opposition BJP and JDS are celebrating the HC order asking Siddaramaiah to step down.
The legal team of Siddaramaiah is now carefully examining the order and discussing its next steps. Since the HC has refused to stay it, their response should be solid as it is already a delicate situation.
Most in Karnataka Congress believe and argue that Siddaramaiah will not go down without a big fight as he is facing a charge of corruption benefitting his immediate family for the first time in his political career.
Due to back-to-back charges and counter charges, governance seems to have taken a backseat in Karnataka.
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