Amidst the controversy over alleged irregularities in Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), its chairman, K. Mari Gowda, tendered his resignation from the post on Wednesday (October 16). A Congress leader and follower of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he submitted his resignation to Urban Development Secretary Deepa Cholan in Bengaluru.
Nudged by CM?
Speculation is rife that Mr. Gowda was instructed to step down by the Chief Minister, who is facing a probe over alleged irregularities in the allocation of sites by MUDA to his wife. However, Mr. Gowda told journalists that he had quit on his own volition owing to bad health and that the Chief Minister had nothing to do with it. Mr. Gowda is learnt to have met the Chief Minister before submitting his resignation.
Mr. Gowda has been in the dock ever since the Opposition started targeting the Chief Minister over alleged irregularities in MUDA. Some of the followers of Mr. Siddaramaiah recently shouted slogans against Mr. Mari Gowda expressing their anger against him in connection with the alleged irregularities.
Mr. Gowda’s resignation is being seen as an initiative towards sprucing up MUDA, which is shrouded in controversies. The Chief Minister’s wife recently returned all the 14 sites that had been allotted to her by MUDA in return for her land that had been acquired by it. Interestingly, the MUDA chairman’s resignation has come at a time when AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal is in Bengaluru.
‘More to come’
Reacting to the resignation, activist Snehamayi Krishna, who has filed a private complaint against the Chief Minister on the alleged irregularities, told journalists in Mysuru that in the days to come, there will be more resignations, including that of Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Mr. Krishna said Mari Gowda resigned, owning moral responsibility as there was misconduct and wrongdoing, and the same yardstick should apply to others.
‘’Mari Gowda’s resignation is tantamount to an admission of wrongdoing, and hence other political leaders, including Mr. Siddaramaiah, should also follow suit, and they are bound to resign in the days to come,” said Mr. Snehamayi Krishna.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok urged the ruling Congress to clarify the reasons for Mr. Mari Gowda’s resignation if it was true that there were no irregularities.
Published - October 16, 2024 04:40 pm IST
