MUDA | Topple or not? Karnataka Opposition divided on Siddaramaiah

Citing corruption, they stridently call for Siddaramaiah's resignation as Karnataka Chief Minister over alleged corruption. And yet, the Opposition parties in the state seem split and hesitant to fully 'expose' the scandals linked to his government.

Although top leaders of Karnataka BJP have repeatedly called for Siddaramaiah’s ouster, there is lack of unanimity within the party as well as its ally, the Janata Dal (Secular), on this count.

Also read: Karnataka’s rival politicians prefer ‘adjustment’ to action, but that may be changing

Siddaramaiah was booked by the Lokayukta police after a sanction from the Governor over land allotments made under the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Kumaraswamy aggressive

For one, JD(S) leader and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy seems more vocal than BJP leaders in his aggression against Siddaramaiah. The BJP's calls for Siddaramaiah’s resignation appear half-hearted.

Also, senior JD(S) leaders, including GT Devegowda, a part of the party legislative group of 18 MLAs and chairman of the JD(S) core committee, and several state BJP leaders do not seem particularly eager to destabilise the government led by Siddaramaiah.

Also read | MUDA scam | Fighting corruption charges, Siddaramaiah pushed to a wall

Cracks in JD(S) ranks

A JD(S) MLA who preferred to remain anonymous told The Federal that party leaders, barring Kumaraswamy, were not interested in bringing down the government. Even Kumaraswamy’s brother, HD Revanna, is not with him.

"Kumaraswamy, frustrated after the JD(S) defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections and not becoming the chief minister, holds a personal grudge against Siddaramaiah who he blames for the collapse of his coalition government in 2019,” the MLA told The Federal.

“He is personally interested in damaging Siddaramaiah’s image and ousting him from the chief minister’s post," the legislator added.

Sympathetic JD(S) leaders

In contrast, many JD(S) MLAs seem sympathetic towards Siddaramaiah, partly due to the latter’s JD(S) roots and because he has released funds for developmental projects in their constituencies.

Watch: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah MUDA ripples: Can BJP unseat Siddaramaiah?

This sentiment was echoed publicly by GT Devegowda, who also downplayed the urgency in calling for Siddaramaiah’s resignation.

The BJP, currently battling internal divisions, does not appear to be in an attack mode against the Siddaramaiah’s government. While state president BY Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, held press conferences, their efforts looked half-hearted.

BJP leaders not too keen

According to a member of the party’s state executive committee, BJP leaders in Karnataka are merely following the directions of their Delhi leadership but without much enthusiasm.

"In Karnataka, many leaders across parties engage in 'adjustment politics,' and several state BJP leaders, including Vijayendra and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, are not keen on Siddaramaiah’s resignation," the insider told The Federal.

Another leader close to former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said the MUDA issue was not significant enough to warrant a full-blown attack on Siddaramaiah.

BJP leader exposes plot

“Many leaders from all parties have benefited from MUDA land allotments, including through de-notification of land. They fear the Lokayukta probe might expose their own irregularities," the leader explained.

Watch: Parvathi Siddaramaiah's return of MUDA sites — a political masterstroke?

Furthermore, the anti-Vijayendra faction in the BJP, which includes leaders like Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, and former MP Pratap Simha, has indirectly supported Siddaramaiah on several occasions.

Yatnal has claimed that some BJP and Congress leaders are conspiring to oust Siddaramaiah, adding that Rs 1,200 crore had been set aside for the operation.

Internal struggle in BJP

He also mentioned the possibility of reviving "Operation Lotus", a tactic used in the past to lure opposition MLAs to the BJP.

Yatnal’s damning accusation suggests an internal struggle in the BJP, with a section targeting the Chief Minister and others going slow.

Adding to the complexity, JD(S)'s Devegowda has questioned the need for the CM to step down, pointing out that while the Lokayukta and the Enforcement Directorate are investigating the matter, the mere filing of an FIR does not necessitate resignation.

Devegowda’s indirect support is particularly striking as it comes from a senior JD(S) leader who is aligned with the BJP on most issues. His stance, much like that of Pratap Simha and Yatnal, complicates the calls for Siddaramaiah’s exit.

Some BJP leaders worried

Meanwhile, some BJP leaders have privately expressed concerns about their own potential scandals being exposed by the Congress.

Several significant cases involving land scams, illegal mining, Bitcoin, Covid-19 spends and police recruitment are under review by the legal department.

The government is considering prosecuting leaders like HD Kumaraswamy, Basavaraj Bommai, former minister K Sudhakar and Vijayendra. These legal challenges weigh heavily on Opposition leaders, making them cautious about aggressively pursuing Siddaramaiah over MUDA.

Additionally, Kumaraswamy’s rise in Karnataka politics continues to worry BJP leaders, especially those from the Vokkaliga community who fear that he is outshining them.