Bengaluru: It is not only the opposition, including his former mentor H.D. Deve Gowda, who are crying hoarse over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s alleged moves to cripple the Lokayukta, the state’s prime corruption fighter, by setting up the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Even homegrown Congress leaders including some in New Delhi, have not taken kindly to the move and may up the ante in the days to come.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader wondered how Mr Siddaramaiah could decide to constitute the Anti-Corruption Bureau without consulting any senior leader.
"He must have forgotten that the Congress came to power in the state in May 2013, due to institutions like Lokayukta which unearthed a series of land and mining scams involving senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. Our party manifesto came out with a tag line - Clean Government, Transparent Governance - then in order to reassure voters that the Congress would take care of their genuine concerns," the source observed.
The source added that murmurs of dissent about Mr Siddaramaiah's move have begun in the national capital as many Congress leaders had taken on Prime Minister, Narendra Modi when as Gujarat Chief Minister, he did not allow the Governor to appoint the Lokayukta in that state.
"They are worried that Mr Siddaramaiah's decision might be interpreted as a move to protect the corrupt and may have its adverse effect on poll-bound states like Assam and Kerala, where Congress Chief Ministers are having a tough time. Mr Siddaramaiah should have held consultations or delayed the decision to constitute the Anti-Corruption Bureau, till elections in the five states had concluded,” the source explained.
Though party central leaders have not yet asked him to explain on this issue, they are reportedly keeping a close watch on the repercussions including the howls of protest from the opposition.
“The Congress top brass was hoping that Mr Siddaramaiah would work hard to ensure people take notice of Karnataka as a model state but in reality, his decisions are hurting the party's image at the national level. An example to cite is the Hublot wrist watch, which could have been easily avoided,” the source contended.
