On Thursday, August 1, the BJP successfully persuaded its disgruntled ally, Janata Dal (Secular), to participate in its ‘padayatra’ addressing the alleged MUDA scam in Karnataka. The party confirmed that JD (S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy will join the march, which is scheduled to commence from Bengaluru on August 3.
This development follows JD(S)’s withdrawal from the planned foot march on July 31, which was intended to protest the alleged irregularities in site distribution by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), including allocations to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife.
HD Kumaraswamy withdraws support
Kumaraswamy voiced his frustration over the inclusion of BJP leader Preetham Gowda, who played a key role in revealing the alleged sex scandal involving JD(S) leader’s nephew Prajwal Revanna, as a major organizer of the foot march.
Kumaraswamy criticized the BJP for not consulting his party and condemned the selection of a BJP leader from Hassan district to lead the protest, accusing them of undermining his party’s interests.
“Who exactly is Preetham Gowda? He is someone who tried to destroy Deve Gowda’s family. Now they (the BJP) want me to sit beside him during the march preparations—the very person who has caused harm to my family. Who is in charge of distributing the pen drives? There is a limit to my patience,” Kumaraswamy expressed in frustration to the media.
It is claimed that Preetham Gowda was involved in leaking explicit videos allegedly featuring Kumaraswamy’s nephew and former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. These videos, stored on pen drives, were distributed throughout Hassan before the Lok Sabha elections, leading to sexual assault charges against Prajwal.
“Are they really seeking my support for this? Do they not understand what happened in Hassan? Who is accountable for this?” Kumaraswamy demanded.
Senior BJP leaders, including three who held a press conference earlier, reportedly met with Kumaraswamy to address his concerns and calm him down, according to sources.
The Padayatra
Later, Agrawal painted an image of harmony inside the state’s ruling National Democratic Alliance and announced that the JD(S) and BJP will be organizing a foot march from Bengaluru to Mysuru from August 3rd to 10th in protest of what they claim is MUDA’s bogus site allocation.
In response to a question concerning the JD(S) leader’s displeasure with Gowda’s attendance, Agrawal stated that the yatra is an organization program and that no individual is invited. He asserted that the main characters in the program will be Vijayendra, who serves as the president of the BJP in Karnataka, and Kumaraswamy, who represents his party in the state.
According to him, Kumaraswamy is a major participant in the yatra and will be present on August 3.
Additionally, he dismissed the accusations made by BJP dissidents, such as veteran party leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal, stating that large parties like the BJP might have occasional aberrations.
Yatnal has said that in an attempt to remove Siddaramaiah, Vijayendra is working hand in hand with Congressman and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Agrawal asserted that the MUDA “scam” is valued at more than ₹4,000 crore and stated that the padayatra will give voice to people’s resentment of the Congress government’s corruption.
He claimed that the state government has redirected funds intended for the welfare of SCs and STs towards political uses and freebies, adding that MPs and MLAs from the NDA will be participating in the yatra.