New Delhi: A proposal by the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to rename a stretch of the historic KRS Road after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as “Siddaramaiah Arogya Marga” has ignited a fierce political controversy. The move, based on a suggestion by Chamaraja Congress MLA Harish Gowda and approved at an MCC meeting on November 22nd, has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JDS, Siddaramaiah’s political rivals.
The MCC’s notice, published in a local newspaper on December 13th, invited public feedback on the renaming proposal within 30 days. This action followed the matter being initially presented to the Mysuru deputy commissioner before being considered by the council. The timing of the proposal, coinciding with Siddaramaiah’s second term as Chief Minister and in his home district of Mysuru, has fueled accusations of self-promotion.
The BJP was quick to condemn the move. State BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa criticized the decision, accusing the Congress government of adopting a “Tughlaq-style” governance.
“The Mysuru kingdom was built and nurtured by the kings and maharajas of Mysuru. On a road named after such a great royal lineage, Chief Minister @siddaramaiah is now attempting to rename it after himself. How appropriate and reasonable is it for the Mysuru City Corporation, which lacks elected representatives, to take this decision? Does the Chief Minister, who is in power and seeking to establish his own name, not feel a moral prick? Such actions can only be seen among those who follow the governance style of Tughlaq,” Yediyurappa posted on X.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi echoed these concerns, expressing hope that “good sense prevails” highlighting the allegations against Siddaramaiah. The JDS, a former ally of the BJP, also voiced strong opposition. Their statement condemned the proposal, calling it an insult to the entire state, given Siddaramaiah’s alleged involvement in a corruption case involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The JDS statement strongly condemned the renaming and highlighted the pending corruption trial against Siddaramaiah.
“The decision of the Mysore Metropolitan Corporation to name the KRS road in the historic city of Mysore as “Siddaramaiah Arogya Marg” is condemnable. The accused A1, who illegally obtained a site in Muda and cheated, is facing trial in the 420 @siddaramaiah court and Lokayukta. Naming a road after the corrupt Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has swallowed up Muda, is a betrayal and insult not only to the historic city of Mysore but also to the entire state,” JDS said.
Adding fuel to the fire, RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna, whose complaint led to a case being registered in the alleged MUDA land scam, highlighted the road’s historical significance. Krishna pointed out that Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had donated the land for a tuberculosis hospital in memory of his sister and her children, making the renaming even more controversial.
“The officials have decided to name a road after Siddaramaiah, who is an accused in the MUDA case, despite not having any power to do so. Several citizens have expressed their objections to the proposal. I’m also fighting against it legally. If the proposal is not dropped, we will challenge it in the high court and seek action against the concerned officials.” Krishna told reporters.
