Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah on Monday challenged Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to face an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into his amassing of wealth, especially since he assumed office.
Speaking to presspersons after a Congress Legislature Party meeting, he said that Karnataka had earned the sobriquet of the most corrupt State, thanks to numerous scandals involving the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues. Holding Mr. Yeddyurappa responsible for the chaotic political situation in the State, he said that the Congress should not be blamed for it.
Accompanied by Afzalpur MLA Malikayya Guttedar, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the “legislator had decided against resigning”.
Mr. Guttedar, who on Sunday announced that he would resign his Assembly membership and from the party citing his “marginalisation”, said he had changed his mind after Mr. Siddaramaiah assured him that his grievances would be redressed by the party high command.
However, the CLP leader said if the party did not act on its assurance, he would be free to decide his course of action.
Leaders for Delhi
Meanwhile, a dozen senior Congress leaders are leaving to New Delhi in two days for briefing the party president Sonia Gandhi about the Union Government's failure in reigning in the Bharatiya Janata Party Government, which they claimed had been trying to win over Opposition MLAs with monetary benefits.
A large contingent of party leaders have told Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president R.V. Deshpande that they are planning to meet Ms. Gandhi to express their unhappiness at the Centre's refusal to act tough with the B.S. Yeddyurappa Government, thus losing the opportunity to form a coalition government.
The high command had reportedly asked Union Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily to listen to the “grievances” of the Congress workers in Karnataka, which he did on Monday evening. Senior leaders such as Mr. Deshpande, Mr. Siddaramaiah, the former Chief Minister and MP N. Dharam Singh, KPCC working president D.K. Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Motamma discussed the issue with Mr. Moily.
