Marigowda announced his resignation on Wednesday, citing health issues and directives from the Chief Minister. He faced severe criticism from Congress leaders and workers following allegations of the scam involving CM Siddaramaiah and his family
Published Oct 17, 2024 | 12:10 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 17, 2024 | 11:28 AM
Congress leader K Marigowda resigned from his role as the chairperson of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. (supplied)
Amid an investigation into the alleged MUDA scam, Congress leader K Marigowda has resigned from his role as Chairman of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on Wednesday, 16 October.
Marigowda announced his decision, citing health issues and instructions from the Chief Minister as reasons for stepping down.
Ever since the MUDA scam allegations were made on CM Siddaramaiah and his family, Marigowda was severely criticised by the Congress’ Mysuru unit leaders and workers.
On the directions of the Special Court for People’s Representatives, Karnataka Lokayukta registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah and his family and have launched a probe on the alleged MUDA Scam.
Following the resignation of the MUDA chairman, BJP – JD(S) leaders have criticised this strongly and questioned the Chief Minister whether Marigowda was pressurised by Siddaramaiah to resign.
Marigowda, who is a close confidant of the Chief Minister, submitted his resignation to Urban Development Department’s Secretary Deepa Cholan on Wednesday. He confirmed to the media that he resigned from his role as the chairman of the MUDA.
Before submitting the resignation, Marigowda held talks with CM Siddaramaiah at his official residence Cauvery in Bengaluru.
#Karnataka: Amid the ongoing probe by the Lokayukta on the alleged #MUDA scam, #Mysuru Urban Development Authority’s chairman K Marigowda tendered his resignation.
Marigowda told reporters: “I have tendered resignation on the directions of the Chief Minister. I have submitted… pic.twitter.com/ZtsnYHiHJR
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 16, 2024
After tendering his resignation, Marigowda told reporters at Vidhana Soudha: “I have submitted resignation to the Urban Development Department’s Secretary. I have resigned on the directions of the Chief Minister and also because of my health issues.”
“The probe is underway on the alleged irregularities in the MUDA scam and it will continue. The ongoing probe will ascertain whether irregularities occurred in the MUDA or not,” he added when asked about the ongoing probe.
On whether he was under pressure to resign, he stated that he was not pressurised by anyone. “I am resigning because of my health issues. CM Siddaramaiah is our leader. I am associated with him for the last 40 years.”
“He has made me taluka panchayat and zilla panchayat (Mysuru) president. He has never asked me to do unlawful activities. He has not given me any instructions or directions pertaining to the MUDA as well,” Marigwoda clarified.
“I have suffered from stroke twice. It is impossible for me to continue as chairperson of the MUDA in the midst of my health issues. I have conveyed the same to the Chief Minister,” he said. Marigowda also ruled out that he was pressurised by Urban Development Minister Byrati Suresh.
Although Marigowda has clarified that he faced no pressure from the Chief Minister or any other leaders to resign, recent instances of humiliation from local Congress leaders and supporters of Siddaramaiah paint a different narrative.
When Marigowda turned up at the Mysuru airport to welcome the Chief Minister on 27 September, the Congress party workers and Siddaramaiah’s followers, who had gathered to express solidarity with the Chief Minister, not only gheraoed him but also raised slogans against him.
Despite the efforts of on-duty police to intervene and de-escalate the situation, Congress workers did not settle down until Marigowda was compelled to leave the airport.
On condition of anonymity, Congress’ Mysuru unit leader told South First: “Marigowda had expressed his intention to resign on the same day the MUDA allegations surfaced against Siddaramaiah. However, the Chief Minister intervened and prevented him from stepping down.”
“Local party workers, particularly Siddaramaiah’s followers, are displeased with Marigowda because the allegations surfaced against the Chief Minister while he was heading the MUDA. They believe he could have shielded Siddaramaiah and his family from the embarrassment caused by the issue.”
“The party workers’ anger was clear when Marigowda arrived at the airport to welcome the Chief Minister. They forced him out of the airport. Although he had health issues, he eventually resigned under the Chief Minister’s direction,” the senior leader added that party workers have been unhappy with Marigowda for the past two months.
Following MUDA Chairman Marigowda’s resignation, the BJP and JD(S) opposition have strongly criticised CM Siddaramaiah, questioning if he pressured Marigowda to step down and claiming it confirms Siddaramaiah’s involvement.
As soon as the news spread about Marigwoda’s resignation, BJP-JD(S), who are NDA alliance partners, came down heavily on Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka.
ಮುಡಾ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸೈಟ್ಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಂದಿರುಗಿಸುವ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪವು ಮುಡಾ ಹಗರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವತ: ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರೇ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.
– ಶ್ರೀ @sambitswaraj , ಸಂಸದರು ಹಾಗೂ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ವಕ್ತಾರರು#ResignSiddaramaiah #MudaScam pic.twitter.com/2S7MYTrBHo
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 16, 2024
Demanding the resignation of Siddaramaiah, BJP’s Puri MP Sambit Patra, who is the party’s national spokesperson, told reporters in Delhi: “MUDA chairman’s resignation and Siddaramaiah returning the 14 sites to the MUDA, clearly proves the involvement of the Chief Minister in the alleged MUDA scam.”
In his post on X, BJP’s Karnataka unit president and MLA BY Vijayendra said: “In what is being described as one of the biggest scandals the state has ever witnessed, where even the Chief Minister is allegedly involved, Siddaramaiah’s close aide K Marigowda, has resigned from the post of Chairman of MUDA, following the Chief Minister’s return of 14 sites.”
ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಂಡು ಕೇಳರಿಯದ ಬಹು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಹಗರಣ ಎನಿಸಿರುವ ಸ್ವತಃ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳೇ ಭಾಗಿಯಾದ ಮುಡಾ ಹಗರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು 14 ನಿವೇಶನಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಂದಿರುಗಿಸಿದ ಬೆನ್ನಲ್ಲೇ ಅವರ ಅತ್ಯಾಪ್ತ ಕೆ.ಮರಿಗೌಡ ಅವರು ಮುಡಾ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಈ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆಯ ಪರ್ವ ಆರಂಭವಾಗಿದ್ದು ನಗರಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಸಚಿವರು,… pic.twitter.com/dVclbftcS2
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) October 16, 2024
“With this scandal unfolding, the resignation spree has begun, and it seems that the only ones yet to resign are the Urban Development Minister, the District In-charge Minister, and the Chief Minister himself. K. Marigowda’s resignation appears to be a prelude, signalling that those caught in this scandal may have no choice but to step down,” charged Vijayendra.
The JD(S) raised questions on its social media platforms regarding the Chief Minister’s role in Marigowda’s resignation. The regional party pointed out that the Chief Minister had previously stated, “I have not committed any wrongdoing, have not altered documents, maintain a clean image, and have no involvement in illegal activities.”
ನಾನು ತಪ್ಪೇ ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ, ವೈಟ್ನರ್ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದು ನಾನಲ್ಲ, ನಾನು ಕ್ಲೀನ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಕ್ಲಿಯರ್.. ಅದು ನಾನಲ್ಲ.. ನಾನಲ್ಲ.., ಆ ಸೈಟುಗಳಿಗೂ ನನಗೂ ಸಂಬಂಧವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸೈಟ್ ಸಿದ್ದಪ್ಪನವರೇ.. ಮೂಡಾಮರಿ ಈಗ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಯಾಕೆ ?
ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಕೊಡಿ ಎಂದು ನೀವೇ ಹೇಳಿದಿರೋ ಅಥವಾ ಮರಿಯೇ ಸ್ವಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿತೋ ? Nation… pic.twitter.com/8oQSaOQKIf
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) October 16, 2024
The JD(S) then asked, “If you have no connection to the site allotments, why did the MUDA Chairman resign? Was he asked to step down, or did he resign on his own?”
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
