Congress and Prime Minister prepare legal and political fight against the governor's measures

Women and Congress supporters protested in Mysuru on Sunday against the governor's decision to authorise the prosecution of the chief minister. | Photo: MA Sriram

A day after Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot approved conducting an inquiry against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with irregularities in land allocation by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the Congress and the Chief Minister are bracing for the political and legal challenges. While the Congress announced that it would hold district-level protest rallies across the country on Monday, the Chief Minister's inner circle is apparently busy discussing strategies at the legal and political levels.

On the political front, the Chief Minister has called a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party at the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday evening to discuss the matter. He is likely to give some details on the way forward at the meeting and seek the support of the MPs. This is an attempt to take the party's MPs into his confidence after he has already taken his Cabinet colleagues into his confidence.

According to sources, the Prime Minister is considering holding talks with the best lawyers in the country, who will be flown to Bengaluru. According to sources, the Prime Minister's circle is currently examining which platform the sanction could be challenged on. “The grounds for the challenge are clear. Discussions are underway as to whether this will happen in the Karnataka High Court or the Supreme Court. We are examining how we will proceed.”

Meanwhile, one of the complainants in the case, TJ Abraham, who has approached the special court for people's representatives, said the case will be heard on August 21 and he will bring the developments in the governor's office before the special court. He said he approached the court as the complaint before the Lokayukta had not progressed any further. “I am glad that the governor has taken note of our complaint.”

Chief Minister's legal adviser AS Ponnanna said, “The litigation will definitely begin. We are yet to decide on the right forum. We are in talks with leading lawyers from Delhi. Once we get a clear picture, we will proceed.”

Protest announced

Announcing the Congress demonstration on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said party workers and leaders would demonstrate in all district centres to convey their disapproval to the President of India over the Governor's action. “Though there is no reason, a reason is being deliberately created. The Governor has murdered democracy. Our path is that shown by Gandhiji. We have told our leaders to demonstrate peacefully,” he said. He also warned the leaders to be on the lookout for mischief by troublemakers during the protests. He said Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge has been informed about the political developments.

At another press conference, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge cited several court judgments in which courts had granted the right of judicial review of the governor's prosecution powers, indicating the government's active willingness to challenge the law in court.