‘No poll malpractice in Mysuru, but probe required where there is suspicion’: Yathindra Siddaramaiah

Dr Yathindra said, a probe should be held in the segments where there is a suspicion. 'No Congress worker has complained from the villages. If there was malpractice, we would have got an indication,' he said.

Mysuru: MLC Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah said, even though the Congress lost the last (2024) Lok Sabha election in Mysuru, there have been no complaints about any poll malpractice, as complained by Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, but there might be cheating in some other constituency, as the BJP-led government at the Centre has been misusing the Central agencies.

Speaking to media persons, in Mysuru, on Friday, Dr Yathindra, also son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said, a probe should be held in the segments where there is a suspicion. “No Congress worker has complained from the villages. If there was malpractice, we would have got an indication,” he said.

Dr Yathindra said, “Even though there was no money-laundering in the alleged MUDA sites scam, in which my mother’s name was also dragged, the Centre misused the Enforcement Directorate (ED). But the Supreme Court’s recent order to the ED’s appeal has given us a bit of relief. The BJP is targeting our family politically. However, the party workers and also high command were very supportive. At least now, the opposition parties should stop propaganda against our family”.

However Dr Yathindra said that his mother will not reclaim the 14 sites that she got as alternative compensation for her acquired land. “Another case is pending before the Special Court for People’s Representatives. We look forward to a favourable outcome. My mother is pained that my father’s name was dragged into a political controversy, due to the sites' allotment,” he said.

In reply to a question on the speculations that his father would step down as CM, Dr Yathindra said, basically the question itself is irrational, as no Congress leader has said that there is an agreement on a two-and-a-half years term.

Replying to a query on the criticism about the Sadhana Samavesh held by his father in Mysuru last week, Dr Yathindra said, Siddaramaiah is only second to Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in allocating funds for the development of Mysuru. “Thus the achievement rally was required. The opposition leaders criticise out of jealousy,” he said.