The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the immediate resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) attachment of 142 immovable properties in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.
On Friday, the ED provisionally attached 142 immovable assets worth approximately Rs 300 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the case involving Siddaramaiah and others.
The attached properties are registered in the names of real-estate businessmen and agents, according to the ED.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, in a statement on 'X', asserted that Siddaramaiah must step down immediately to ensure an impartial investigation. "If CM @siddaramaiah values the integrity of his office, he must step down immediately and allow an impartial probe to proceed. The people of Karnataka deserve transparency, accountability, and justice," he said.
Shikaripura MLA Vijayendra described the ED’s action as a significant victory in the fight against corruption, stating that the investigation exposed Siddaramaiah’s alleged misuse of political influence.
The ED claimed that Siddaramaiah secured compensation in the form of 14 sites for his wife, Smt B M Parvathi, instead of land acquired by MUDA. The land, originally acquired for Rs 3,24,700, was compensated with sites worth approximately Rs 56 crore.
The investigation has also implicated former MUDA commissioner D B Natesh, who is said to have been instrumental in the illegal allotment of sites.
Vijayendra charged that the ED's investigation had unveiled significant corruption, with Siddaramaiah allegedly misusing his political influence for personal gain.
"When Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot sanctioned the prosecution of Siddaramaiah, the Congress did everything to undermine the constitutional authority of the Governor," Vijayendra said, pointing out that the Karnataka High Court upheld the decision.
He praised the ED’s role in maintaining impartiality despite attempts by Siddaramaiah to misuse government machinery to stall the investigation.
The BJP leader highlighted the continuous protests led by the BJP and JD(S) against the alleged misuse of power by the Chief Minister and his associates.
Vijayendra also noted that the findings are just the beginning, hinting at a deeper investigation required by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the scandal.
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