Is Congress leadership’s silence on Muda case ruining party’s image in Karnataka

The Muda ‘scam’, centred around the alleged illegal allotment of land parcels to the wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has shaken the state for nearly four months. The controversy intensified recently following the prosecution permission and Lokayukta and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases against the Chief Minister. However, the Congress leadership remains silent, potentially denting the party’s position in the state.
Congress’s top leaders–Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, and Randeep Surjewala–met Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar twice in Delhi to discuss a strategy. Yet, despite these meetings, the party’s high command has remained notably silent following the Karnataka High Court’s refusal to stay proceedings in the case and the subsequent involvement of the Enforcement Directorate.
The absence of public defence from Congress leaders has seemingly left Siddaramaiah politically isolated. The seasoned leader, known for his shrewd crisis management, has been forced to rely on local support to handle the fallout. However, many within the party believe that the silence from the top brass is damaging both the government’s image and the morale of the Congress cadre in the state.
Some of the party leaders have openly voiced their concern. Warning of public backlash, former Congress MP DK Suresh, urged political leaders to focus on development and let courts decide on the cases and allegations.
“The public is not happy with the way different parties are throwing around allegations. If political leaders don’t wake up and focus on development, people might take to the streets, and as in the past, they could resort to stone-pelting—regardless of which party they belong to, be it Congress, BJP, or Janta Dal. No one will be spared. This unfortunate situation might unfold, and I am sounding the warning bell,” Suresh said on Friday.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (L) has also remained uncharacteristically quiet on the Muda ‘scam’ allegations.(Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly invoked the Muda ‘scam’ at various political rallies to attack the Congress. Yet, neither Rahul Gandhi nor Mallikarjun Kharge have stepped forward to defend Siddaramaiah or counter the BJP’s aggressive rhetoric.
A senior Congress source told India Today that this inaction is creating a “dangerous narrative”. “A perception is gaining ground that the Congress government under Siddaramaiah 2.0 is simply a ‘loot party’. For the last two and a half months, the entire cabinet has been on the defensive, trying to fend off allegations instead of focusing on governance,” the leader said.
The frustration within the party is palpable. “We’re exhausted from constantly defending the CM. His inner circle is to blame for the mess. We weren’t informed when the CM decided to return the controversial site–it was a complete surprise to us,” a party insider said, adding, “Now, in an effort to keep DK Shivakumar on his side, the CM announced during the Mysore Dasara celebrations that the Congress government will complete a 5-year term, without mentioning his own tenure in the government”.
Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar has remained uncharacteristically quiet on the issue, further deepening the uncertainty around the leadership’s handling of the crisis. Last week, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, when questioned about the ED’s investigation into the Muda ‘scam’, vaguely responded, “We will make a decision when the time comes”.

Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar along with other Congress leaders stage a protest against the Centre over the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to prosecute Siddaramaiah in the Muda ‘scam’ in August. (Photo: PTI)

This indecision has left many wondering when the Congress leadership will step in decisively. Will they wait until after the Haryana elections? Or will they take action before the Maharashtra polls? For now, the lack of clarity and the silence from the top could cost Congress its hard-won ground in Karnataka.
The high command has not only remained silent on the Muda issue but also on the matter of several senior leaders–such as MB Patil, Basavaraj, RB Thimmapura, and Basavaraj Rayareddy–openly expressing interest in the chief minister’s post as the scandal continues to stir political tensions. Instead of rallying behind Siddaramaiah, many leaders appear to be positioning themselves for the top job. The lack of any directive or disciplinary action from the high command against these ministers raises questions about why it remains silent on the unfolding developments in Karnataka.