Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah will quit soon, claims state BJP President BY Vijayendra
Bengaluru, Nov 8: Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Friday claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, facing probe in the MUDA site allotment case, will resign soon.
Both Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Congress national President M Mallikarjun Kharge are also aware as to when the CM will quit, he said.
He termed Siddaramaiah's reported recent statement that he will continue as CM for the full term, as an attempt aimed at garnering votes from certain communities for the November 13 by-polls for three Assembly segments.
"The Chief Minister, who is an accused, is patting himself on his back. He is trying to instill confidence among legislators (Congress) that he will continue as CM, but Siddaramaiah knows what is the truth. D K Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge know when he will resign," Vijayendra said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said at the time of election, to get the support of certain communities, such statements are made.
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"I don't know whether it is right or not to say this repeatedly, but the Chief Minister's resignation has already been decided," he added.
The opposition has been demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation, following charges against him in the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) site allotment case.
There were also behind-the-scenes political activities within the ruling Congress last month, with a few Ministers in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet holding closed door meetings, fueling speculation about leadership change. But such activities came to a halt following instructions from the party high command.
Stating that the stand of the Congress government and the Chief Minister on the Waqf issue and their conduct are being questioned by people and farmers of the state, Vijayendra said they should have responded to trouble faced by farmers.
"But, under the CM's insistence, Zameer Ahmed Khan (Waqf Minister) has taken the lead in robbing land from farmers, its implications will be felt in by-polls," he said.
People of the state are questioning the CM's "anti-farmer attitude", the conspiracy to loot the lands and properties of Mutts, and the "anti-Hindu behaviour" of this government, he further said. "All of this will become a curse for the Congress government and people will turn against them. Let there be no doubts."
Vijayendra expressed confidence about BJP winning in Sandur and Shiggaon Assembly segments, and its alliance partner JD(S) emerging victorious in Channapatna. The three segments will go for by-polls on November 13.
"The Chief Minister and Ministers are somewhat aware that Congress will lose all the three segments..." he claimed.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
