Despite film-type car chase D K Shivakumar fails to stop MLA from fleeing

TNN

July 9, 2019

Bengaluru: As a skilful trouble-shooter, senior Karnataka Congressman DK Shivakumar may have resolved many a crisis in the party. But on Monday he could not prevent his own man, independent MLA H Nagesh, from deserting the coalition and flying to Mumbai.

The sequence of events appeared straight out of a Bollywood film where the hero tries to stop the bad man from fleeing. But it wasn’t a joyful ending for Shivakumar as he arrived at the HAL airport five minutes late and Nagesh had departed on a special flight by then.

“I wanted to talk to Nagesh. He was forcibly flown to Mumbai by BJP people,” an upset Shivakumar told reporters.

Shivakumar had played a key role in helping Nagesh win the Mulbagal assembly seat in Kolar district. A former engineer with Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation, Nagesh was sworn in as a minister in the HD Kumaraswamy cabinet less than a month ago. The first-time MLA was peeved with the decision of the Congress-JD(S) leadership to seek resignations of all ministers to accommodate rebels. Nagesh was asked to put in his papers late on Sunday night, sources said.

On Monday morning, Nagesh submitted his resignation letter as minister to former CM Siddaramaiah and then hopped over to Raj Bhavan and handed over two letters to governor Vajubhai R Vala. In one, Nagesh stated he was withdrawing support to the Kumaraswamy-led government and in the other he pledged support to BJP.

From Raj Bhavan, he left for the HAL airport where he was received by NH Santosh, state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa’s personal assistant. Nagesh immediately boarded a plane which took off within minutes.

Shivakumar rushed to the airport when he learnt about Nagesh’s plan to fly to Mumbai. However, by the time he arrived, Nagesh had left. Shivakumar later left for New Delhi and is scheduled to return in time for the Congress legislature party meeting scheduled in Bengaluru at 9am on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, another independent MLA who was made a minister recently, R Shankar, a protege of Siddaramaiah, also left for Mumbai to join the rebels. Before leaving for Mumbai, Shankar, too, met the governor and submitted a letter withdrawing support to the coalition government.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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