Lingayat seers try to broker truce between BSY, Shettar

Bangalore, Jan 31: Seers of influential Lingayat mutts are understood to have been trying hard to broker a truce between KJP leader B S Yeddyurappa and Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, both Lingayats, and ensure the latter presents the 2013-14 budget without any glitches.

The seers, especially those belonging to two powerful mutts, are said to be against Yeddyurappa's efforts to reduce the Shettar government to a minority and prevent him from presenting the budget.

A Lingayat leader dislodging the government headed by a fellow Lingayat would send a wrong message to the entire community, which is the largest in the State, sources said.

The seers are of the view that the community has come together after a long time and flaunted its political might in the State.

If Yeddyurappa topples the government, the community might again disintegrate. So, the pontiffs are making efforts to bring peace between the two leaders, sources said.

In the wake of Yeddyurappa loyalists threatening to resign, Shettar had recently met religious leaders of the community and sought their support to present the budget. Yeddyurappa has been projecting himself as the voice of Lingayats and has been on good terms with the religious leaders of the community.

Speculation was rife in the political circles that Yeddyurappa has been convinced by the seers not to make more MLAs loyal to him resign their Assembly membership. Currently, the government has been surviving on a razor-thin majority.

Resignations

As if to corroborate this speculation, Speaker K G Bopaiah did not take up the process of accepting the resignation letter of Yeddyurappa loyalist and Nagathana MLA Vittal Katakadonda on Wednesday, nor did the Yeddyurappa camp press for it.

The Speaker had withheld Katakadonda's resignation letter on technical grounds on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Speaker left Bangalore for Madikeri to attend a function.

Though Katakadonda had participated in a KJP convention in his home district of Bijapur attended by Yeddyurappa, there was no indication of his resignation.

At the same time, Tarikere MLA D S Suresh, who was to return to Bangalore from Shirdi on Wednesday to submit his resignation letter, continued with his pilgrimage.

Resignation by three more MLAs is sufficient to topple the BJP government, whose strength has been reduced to 108 in the State Assembly after the resignation by 12 MLAs.

The current strength of the Assembly is 211, including the Speaker, and the government needs a minimum of 106 to continue in power. But, the Speaker can vote only in case of a tie.

Guv may not intervene

According to former Advocate General B V Acharya, the Governor can ask the chief minister to prove his majority in the House if he is satisfied that the government does not enjoy majority.

But, in the present situation, the Governor may not intervene as he has already convened the Legislature session from February 4.

Opposition parties will have sufficient opportunities to make the government prove its majority on the floor of the House during the session.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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