BJP demands Karnataka CM’s resignation over corruption charges by Congress MLAs

Upping the ante with respect to a few Congress MLAs raising concerns about alleged corruption in allotments by the Housing Department, the opposition BJP trained its guns on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by describing it as ‘State-sponsored corruption’ and demanded his resignation. 

“Mr. Siddaramaiah should immediately tender his resignation. Otherwise, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot should intervene,” said BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on June 24. 

He declared that the BJP would take to the streets if Mr. Siddaramaiah does not resign. 

“The entire government machinery is being misused to loot the State. Counters have been set up in each department for collecting bribes. No work can happen without a bribe, right from panchayat to secretariat,” Mr. Vijayendra alleged. He accused the Chief Minister of giving targets to ministers close to him to raise resources to protect his chair. He claimed this as the reason for former Minister B. Nagendra quitting, referring to alleged mismanagement of funds in the Valmiki ST Development Corporation. Next in line is Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Mr. Vijayendra remarked. 

Launching a scathing attack on the Chief Minister, Mr. Vijayendra alleged, “The administration is being run through commission mafia. The Chief Minister has closed his eyes to this only to protect his chair. He has lost his hold on the administration. He wants to continue in power just to break the longest-tenure record of former CM Devaraj Urs.”

He maintained that AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge was frustrated over such developments in Karnataka and hence desisted from responding to the allegations of three Congress MLAs on corruption. The fact that a senior MLA like B. R. Patil, who is close to the CM, has said that it is not possible for the poor to get houses without paying bribes shows that MLAs of the ruling party are frustrated, he alleged.