Ordinance on Bangalore Palace politically motivated, says Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy

Mysuru: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and senior BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of targeting the erstwhile royal family of Mysore due to Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar’s affiliation with the BJP. He questioned whether the CM would have taken similar action if Yaduveer were a Congress MP.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Chamarajapuram yesterday, Narayanaswamy criticised the government’s handling of the Bangalore Palace Grounds issue. He pointed out that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had approved a Rs. 3,014 crore compensation in the form of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to the royal family for acquiring a portion of the Palace land.

However, instead of fulfilling this commitment, the Government passed an Ordinance to take full control of the property, he claimed.

Highlighting the contributions of the erstwhile rulers, Narayanaswamy stated that the Mysore Maharajas were pioneers in introducing reservations for SC/ST communities and were instrumental in ensuring a peaceful and progressive society.

‘State Ministers acting like CEOs’

Taking a swipe at the Congress-led government, he alleged that several State Ministers were behaving like CEOs of private companies, disregarding advice from both CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar.

He further claimed that rampant corruption within the Government had disillusioned not only contractors but also Congress workers, with allegations of a 60 percent commission in contracts.

He went on to accuse the CM himself of being involved in the “Mega MUDA scam,” arguing that Siddaramaiah should have resigned and handed over the investigation to the CBI. Instead, he continues to cling to power “shamelessly,” he said, adding that the CM had lost control over his Cabinet colleagues.

Narayanaswamy also hit out at AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks on the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, questioning whether Kharge himself does not perform puja at home. He called for stringent action against those who denounced the religious gathering and further questioned Rahul Gandhi’s claim of being a Brahmin, citing that his grandfather Feroze Gandhi was a Parsi.

The BJP leader also condemned the alleged illegal demolition of the home of Razia and Abdul Razaq in Magge village, H.D. Kote taluk. He claimed the couple was targeted for refusing to sell their land, which is adjacent to Kabini backwaters, to private parties aiming to build a resort.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa, City BJP President L. Nagendra and other BJP leaders were present at the press conference.