From our Special correspondent
Daijiworld media network

Bengaluru, Aug 17: The BJP and the Congress on Saturday sparred over Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot’s decision to accord sanction for prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Two senior cabinet ministers – Industries Minister M B Patil and Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge – have strongly condemned the decision of State Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot in granting permission for prosecuting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as gross abuse of power and using the Raj Bhavan as a “tool” to destabilise the Congress government.

“The decision of the Governor allowing social activist TJ Abraham’s petition to prosecute the Chief Minister in the MUDA scam as part of the BJP conspiracy to pull down the government,” alleged Industries Minister M B Patil.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru on Saturday, Patil said the Chief Secretary had provided detailed explanation to the Raj Bhavan soon after Abraham has submitted his complaint to the Governor.

“However, the Governor hastily issued a show cause notice on the very next day. When the show cause notice was issued, we had suspected the role of the governor,” he said criticising the Governor for disregarding the “Strong Advice” from the State Cabinet to withdraw the notice.

Patil said the Raj Bhavan had ignored similar petitions against JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy and BJP minister Shashikala Jolle for over one year, “When these complaints submitted by the BJP leaders themselves for kept in cold storage for over a year, what was the tearing hurry to grant permission,” he asked pointing out that allegations against the Chief Miniser in the MUDA scam as “baseless and unfounded.”

The BJP under Narendra Modi has been trying to destabilise the non-BJP governments in Delhi, Tamil Nadu and other States. This strategy has now been started in Karnataka, which will be fully resisted.

Priyank Khage, son of AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, has said the MUDA had allotted 14 sites of Siddaramaiah’s wife when BJP was in power in the State and BJP MLAs were among the MUDA members, who had resolved to allot the sites. The attempts to pull down a constitutional government with clear majority will be resisted, he warned.

Meanwhile, BJP state President, BY Vijayendra, taking to X, stated, “The Governor has exercised his constitutional powers to authorise legal action on the MUDA scam complaint against the Chief Minister.

“Given the substantial evidence and serious allegations of corruption and favouritism within the Congress government, it is crucial that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah steps down. Resigning would allow for a transparent and unbiased investigation, ensuring that the dignity of the Chief Minister's office is maintained and that justice is served.”

Nikhil demands CM’s resignation

Meanwhile, State Yuva Morcha JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy has in his reaction said the permission to prosecute the Chief Minister in the MUDA scam was a “victory for the BJP-JDS struggle.”

The Chief Minister should immediately resign owning moral responsibility, he said pointing out that Siddaramaiah has “no other alternative.”

The BJP-JDS will continue its struggle till Siddaramaiah quits, he warned.

In a major development, Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot gave sanction for prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday in connection with the alleged irregularities in MUDA.

With Inputs from IANS