"CM Siddaramaiah must resign, make way for impartial investigation," says BJP MP Tejasvi Surya

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, according to the Raj Bhavan sources on Saturday. Siddaramaiah has been maintaining that everything was done according to the law.

"The honourable governor of Karnataka has sanctioned protection against CM Siddaramaiah regarding the serious allegations he is facing in the MUDA scam. This is a very significant development. The nature of the allegations is very serious," the BJP MP told ANI.

"The investigating agencies will now have to start the process of prosecution. Needless to say, one cannot expect the CM to continue in office while agencies reporting to him, are investigating charges against him. So the principles of natural justice and principles of morality demand that CM Siddaramaiah must resign and make way for impartial investigation," he added.

Challenging the move, the Karnataka government said they would move the High Court against the governor's permission for prosecution.

Defending the governor's move, BY Vijayendra who is the state BJP President, said that the governor has exercised his constitutional powers."The Hon'ble Governor has exercised his constitutional powers and allowed legal action to be taken against the chief minister's Muda scam complaint," he said in a post on X.

Senior Minister in the Siddaramiah cabinet Priyank Kharge criticised the move and said the BJP was using the governor's office for political motives.

"Raj Bhavan is being misused as the BJP's tool to undermine a democratically elected government. The Constitutional head of the State is sparking a constitutional crisis to appease his political masters. The Central Government may throw its full weight behind this, but we stand firm with the Constitution on our side," Kharge said.

Earlier in the month, refuting the allegations, CM Siddaramaiah said," In the case of Muda, everything was done according to law. I have not exerted any kind of influence on the allotment of the plot. My wife has been given a replacement plot in 2021 during the government period of the BJP government as per the law."

Earlier, a complaint was filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. (ANI)