'He's Had It; CM Siddaramaiah May Resign On October 8' — Vidhana Soudha Whispers Suggest Possible 'Fatigue', 'Internal Sabotage'

In the power corridors of Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha, whispers of a possible political upheaval are growing louder.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah finds himself embroiled in scandals and surrounded by ambitious party colleagues eager to capitalise on his perceived vulnerabilities.

As rumours spread about his potential resignation following the results to Haryana and J&K elections on 8 October, the CM’s grip on power seems increasingly tenuous.

The MUDA Land Scam

The troubles for CM Siddaramaiah began with the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) land scam. In this case, Siddaramaiah faces accusations of irregularities in allocating premium land to his wife, Parvathi, in Mysuru.

Critics allege that the land, exchanged under the MUDA’s compensatory scheme, was worth significantly more than the land originally acquired from Parvathi. The BJP was quick to react on this issue. The Karnataka BJP undertook a padyatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru earlier this year, calling for Siddaramaiah's resignation.

While Congress leaders have rallied behind the CM, calling the allegations a political vendetta orchestrated by the BJP and central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the allegations are not going away.

The High Court of Karnataka recently granted authorities the permission to investigate CM Siddaramaiah. For a politician who has long prided himself on his ‘clean’ image, this scandal seems to have struck a blow that could leave a permanent mark.

Apart from the MUDA scandal, the BJP now plans to focus on highlighting the alleged Valmiki scam and the resignation of a minister related to it. They plan on carrying out another march, perhaps in the northern belt where the freebies seem to have swept the elections for the Congress in May last year.

The Internal Power Struggle

While corruption allegations swirl around Siddaramaiah, a parallel drama is playing out within the Congress party itself. Several senior leaders are positioning themselves to replace the embattled Chief Minister. The most prominent among them is Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar.

Long seen as Siddaramaiah’s rival within the party, Shivakumar's role in orchestrating the Congress's victory in Karnataka's 2023 assembly elections posits him as the natural successor should Siddaramaiah step down.

However, Shivakumar is not the only contender. Senior Congress leader MB Patil, known for his influence among the Lingayat community, has also thrown his hat into the ring, publicly sparring with other aspirants about seniority and entitlement to the top post. Patil has been vocally ambitious, expressing confidence that he will eventually occupy the CM’s chair, though some view his boldness as premature.

Meanwhile, other names have surfaced, including Home Minister G. Parameshwara, a Dalit leader with considerable clout within the party, and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who commands a significant following in the Belagavi region. Parameshwara himself acknowledged that there are ten other aspirants for the CM's post.

Adding to the complexity is the role of the Gandhi family. While Shivakumar enjoys considerable support from legislators and Congress workers in Karnataka, talks of his strained relationship with the central leadership have raised questions about whether he would receive the endorsement of the Gandhis.

On the other hand, figures like Parameshwara and Jarkiholi, though lacking the same grassroots appeal, may find favour with the high command due to their seniority and loyalty to the party’s top leadership.

Is A Resignation Inevitable?

While party insiders maintain that Siddaramaiah is committed to completing his five-year term, the ongoing investigations, coupled with alleged internal sabotage, have severely undermined his authority.

Public confidence in the government is also said to be waning. The perception that the government is mired in corruption, coupled with Siddaramaiah’s own legal battles, has led to a growing sense of unease within the party and among the electorate.

Apart from MUDA, the Siddaramaiah administration was also embroiled in the Valmiki corporation scam. B. Nagendra, the Karnataka Minister for Infrastructure Development had to put down his papers and resign from the ministry after CM Siddaramaiah 'admitted' lapse on the part of his government and the minister in question.

B. Nagendra, who belongs to the Valmiki (ST) community, was overseeing the Karnataka State Valmiki Development Corporation when the scandal broke out. The scam revolved around the misappropriation of funds meant for the welfare and development of the Valmiki community, leading to a significant public and political backlash.

As the scandal unfolded, pressure mounted on Nagendra due to the accusations of financial irregularities within the corporation under his watch. The public outcry eventually led to his resignation to contain the political damage to the Congress-led government.

Nagendra resigned from his post, citing a desire to maintain the integrity of the office and to allow a fair investigation to proceed. His resignation, however, did little to stem the political fallout, with opposition parties seizing on the scandal to accuse Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government of widespread corruption and mismanagement.

The Road Ahead: Who Will Succeed Siddaramaiah?

-DK Shivakumar, with his proven electoral record and strong organisational skills, is seen by many as the front-runner.

-MB Patil, on the other hand, could emerge as a compromise candidate, particularly if the party leadership seeks to avoid a direct confrontation between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah loyalists. Patil’s influence among the Lingayat community, a key voting bloc, could make him a more palatable choice for the Congress high command, particularly in the context of upcoming electoral battles.

-Meanwhile, leaders like G. Parameshwara and Satish Jarkiholi will continue to push their own candidacies, each relying on their regional and caste-based support to sway the decision-making process.

As Karnataka’s political landscape becomes increasingly fraught, the future of Siddaramaiah and the Congress government remains uncertain. With corruption allegations, internal rivalries, and public dissatisfaction threatening to topple the current leadership, the weeks following the Haryana election will be critical in determining the trajectory of the state’s politics.