SIDDA IN A CORNER

Nearly three months after Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah was besieged with allegations of his wife benefitting from irregularities at the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), things have come to a head.

- Ajay Sukumaran

On September 24, the Karnataka High Court dismissed the CM's petition challenging the governor's nod for an investigation into the MUDA allotment of housing plots worth Rs 55.8 crore. As expected, the Opposition has stepped up pressure on the CM to quit.

However, Siddaramaiah has decided to stay put and fight it out legally, with an appeal before a higher bench. "All the ministers, MLAs and the party high command are with me," the CM said at a briefing hours after the court judgment. "I'm not afraid of the conspiracies of the BJP and the JD(S) because the people of Karnataka are with me," he added, accusing the Opposition of "misusing the Raj Bhavan" to try and dislodge him.