Siddaramaiah reasserts dominance amid allegations, oppn discord | Bengaluru News

HomeBengaluruSiddaramaiah reasserts dominance amid allegations, oppn discord | Bengaluru News

Become a member

Get the best offers and updates relating to Liberty Case News.

― Advertisement ―

spot_img

Siddaramaiah reasserts dominance amid allegations, oppn discord

BENGALURU: After having successfully navigated a turbulent 2024, chief minister Siddaramaiah appears to have regained his political foothold, emerging stronger despite allegations linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) case and Valmiki development corporation scam.
Investigations into the cases have been tardy. The Karnataka high court had directed a Lokayukta probe into the Muda case and a report is expected this month. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a parallel investigation, though its pace has been slow.

Siddaramaiah reasserts dominance amid allegations, oppn discord

Meanwhile, BJP, beset by internal discord, failed to leverage these allegations during the winter session of the legislature in Belagavi, to knock Siddaramaiah off his stride. Congress’ success in bypolls to three assembly seats has also helped solidified Siddaramaiah’s spot.
“The opposition has been in disarray after the bypolls,” said Brijesh Kalappa, senior advocate and former Congressman. “Siddaramaiah’s ability to deliver on the guarantee schemes and improve Congress’s Lok Sabha perfor mance has cemented his position, but politics is unpredictable; even a week is a long time.”
Siddaramaiah has neutralised dissent within his party. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, once seen as a strong rival for the top post, finds his ambitions in tatters even as Siddaramaiah’s loyalists are reportedly lobbying for a Dalit to replace him as the state Congress president to further limit his influence.
“Siddaramaiah has silenced critics both in and outside Congress. His electoral success has only strengthened his leadership, thanks to weaknesses in both the opposition and Shivakumar’s camp,” said MN Patil, political analyst.
Siddaramaiah received a significant boost when senior JD(S) legislator GT Devegowda openly supported him amid allegations in the Muda case. Buoyed by this gesture, Siddaramaiah is reportedly exploring ways to break JD(S) by poaching 12-13 MLAs. The aim is to weaken Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, who has been his most strident critic.
But Siddaramaiah is not out of the woods yet. The Lokayukta report on the Muda case may pose legal hurdles, while the ED investigation could gather momentum. A petition seeking a CBI probe into the Muda case and an ongoing CBI investigation into the Valmiki scam could add further uncertainty.
BJP insists Siddaramaiah will not complete a five-year term. “Siddaramaiah will step down after the budget session,” said BY Vijayendra, BJP state president. Reports also suggest Shivakumar’s camp may renew its claim for the top post, citing an agreement brokered in Delhi promising an equal share of tenure.
For now, Siddaramaiah has managed to outmanoeuvre both internal critics and opposition forces, cementing his dominance as the state’s political landscape braces for its next chapter.





Source link

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER.

Never miss out on the latest news.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

RATE NOW
wpChatIcon
wpChatIcon