Two BJP Ministers quit in Karnataka, set to join Congress

Bangalore, Feb 21: Ruling BJP suffered a fresh setback in poll-bound Karnataka with two more Ministers quitting the Jagadish Shettar cabinet today, amid indications that they would join the Congress.

Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara and Small Scale Industries Minister Rajugouda alias Narasimha Nayak tendered their resignations to the Chief Minister today.

Earlier, they also met Governor H R Bhardwaj, terming it a "courtesy visit".

The two said they would resign from the primary membership of the party and also submit their resignation from Assembly membership to Speaker K G Bopaiah.

The sources said Yogeeshwara and Rajugouda have been promised by central Congress leaders that they would be taken into the party fold.

The BJP has been reeling under a resignation spree ahead of elections to urban local bodies (excluding Bangalore) on March 7 and the assembly polls expected in May.

Public Works Minister C.M. Udasi and Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje, loyalists of former Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, had quit last month along with 11 members MLAs who resigned from Assembly membership.

Sources claimed that several BJP MLAs, including some Ministers, have knocked at the doors of Congress, which is in the process of taking a call on their entry into the party.

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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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