For the second time in a month, the Congress government in Karnataka is embroiled in allegations of a scam, igniting a political firestorm in the state. The controversy revolves around alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) 50:50 incentive scheme and previous misappropriation of funds at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd (KMVSTDC).
The first scandal led to the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra, who was implicated in the KMVSTDC fund misappropriation. The latest allegations target MUDA's 50:50 incentive scheme, which compensates individuals who lose land for development by offering either 50% of the sites or alternative sites. The BJP has accused MUDA of illegally allocating an alternative site to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah?s wife, Parvati.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka of the BJP claims that Siddaramaiah?s wife received an alternative site in violation of norms. ?How do you defend this?? Ashoka questioned, estimating the extent of the alleged irregularities at Rs 4,000 crore. According to RTI activist Gangaraju, Parvati received an alternative site in the high-value Vijayanagar neighborhood, despite MUDA having available sites in the developed Devanur layout, which originally belonged to her.
The BJP alleges that multiple people received more alternative sites than entitled, and some received land where the guidance value was significantly higher, resulting in losses for MUDA worth hundreds of crores. BJP leaders, including state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, have demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah?s resignation and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. ?This incident has unmasked the CM. He should resign,? Vijayendra declared.
In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the allegations, clarifying that the alternative site was allotted to his wife during BJP rule. He explained that MUDA developed layouts on land in Kesare, near the Mysuru Outer Ring Road, which was a gift deed to his wife from her brother. The land became MUDA property after development, prompting the allocation of an alternative site of the same value. ?Should we lose our property? In exchange, MUDA decided to allot an alternative site of the same value,? Siddaramaiah stated.
Siddaramaiah also questioned the claims of loss to the exchequer, saying, ?Where is the loss to the government?? He emphasized that all MUDA site allotments had been suspended pending investigation. Regarding the BJP?s demand for his resignation, Siddaramaiah retorted, ?What is my role in the irregularity? Why should I resign??
