Decode Politics: How MUDA ‘scam’ clean chit boosts Siddaramaiah in tussle with Shivakumar

Siddaramaiah and the Congress party have denied the allegations. The Congress has pointed out that the launch of MUDA’s “50:50” scheme (to grant 50% of land in a developed locality in exchange for 50% of the land illegally acquired by MUDA), and the decision to allot 14 plots to Siddaramaiah’s wife under the scheme took place in 2020 and 2021 — when the BJP was in power in the state.

The three anti-corruption activists have questioned the original ownership of the 3.16-acre parcel of land, which was acquired by Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law in 2004, and subsequently gifted to the CM’s wife Parvathi in 2010 before it was “illegally” acquired by MUDA.

The activists have alleged that MUDA had already acquired the land when it was bought by the CM’s brother-in-law.

How did the case proceed?

In August last year, Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot granted sanction to prosecute the CM, who approached the Karnataka High Court over the issue. The court stayed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) proceedings against the CM and his wife and also rejected a plea seeking a CBI probe into the case while expressing confidence in the Lokayukta police’s probe.

How did the case play out politically?

As legal troubles mounted for the CM, the Karnataka Congress underwent a churn amid discussions on who would replace Siddaramaiah in case he steps down.

In October last year, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar visited the home of Home Minister G Paramameshwara, thus violating his own diktat to his party colleagues, including ministers, not to hold meetings outside the state secretariat or the party office amid the MUDA row.

Three ministers, including Parameshwara, Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa later held a separate meeting reportedly to discuss Siddaramaiah’s successor. Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa were seen to be Siddaramaiah’s choices as his replacement in the event of his resignation.

The meetings also came at a time when the Congress was grappling with the demands for changing the CM and the state Congress president and inducting more Deputy CMs, even as the party camps led by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar remained engaged in a power tussle.

In January this year, a select group of ministers, including Siddaramaiah, met over dinner at a time when Shivakumar was away on vacation. This meeting was seen as a message to the Congress leadership that the party leaders who hold the key to its vote base should not be “short-changed” while “placating” Shivakumar, a prominent face from the Vokkaliga community, a dominant caste in southern Karnataka.

Why has factional feud flared again?

As the Delhi Assembly elections approached, the Congress top brass urged the two feuding groups to bury their differences. However, following the party’s rout in Delhi early this month, the factional fights in the state Congress has returned, with a section of ministers again appearing to mount a challenge to Shivakumar’s sway over the state party unit.

Over the last week, several ministers considered to be closely allied with Siddaramaiah have questioned why Shivakumar is continuing as the state Congress president despite the party’s stated policy of “one person, one post”. With Siddaramaiah himself telling a news channel that he is considering staying in active politics — despite earlier suggesting that he would retire after the current term in power — many of his supporters have called for him to continue as the CM for his full term.

At least two of the ministers close to Siddaramaiah travelled to Delhi recently to meet the Congress high command with their demands, including the change of the state unit chief and clearances for holding conventions of the backward groups.

On the other hand, the supporters of Shivakumar have been demanding his elevation to the CM’s post, referring to a “rotational CM formula” that was reportedly agreed upon after the party clinched the May 2023 Karnataka polls — though the Congress leadership has never officially confirmed or denied it.