Yathindra's comparison of CM Siddaramaiah with Krishnaraja Wadiyar kicks up row
, claimed the Congress govt led by his father had done more for Mysuru than Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar—the widely revered Maharaja of the erstwhile Mysore princely state.
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"If you look at the grants released by Siddaramaiah for Mysuru, no one else has ever done so much for it. The amount of development Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar has done for Mysuru, a matching grant has been released by the Congress govt led by Siddaramaiah for the city," Yathindra had said in Mysuru.
The statement triggered strong backlash from the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru, opposition BJP functionaries, and others.
While Siddaramaiah appeared to distance himself from the comparison, the remarks ignited sharp criticism.
Mysuru MP and scion of the family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar said, "When someone gets power, it is meant for serving people. Coming to power is not a game. Whether it was Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar or the elected govts after independence of the country, all have had responsibilities towards the people.
No one sets a target to outdo others. What is more important is that we have to live up to the expectations of people.
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Senior Congressman-turned-independent MLC AH Vishwanath also condemned Yathindra's comparison, calling it arrogant. "The statement that Siddaramaiah's govt has done more work than Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar is the height of arrogance. Siddaramaiah calls himself bigger than former chief minister late Devaraj Urs and now his son terms his father towering over the Mysuru Maharaja.
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It seems arrogance is running in their blood.
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Opposition leader in the legislative assembly, R Ashoka of BJP, dismissed the remark as a poor joke. "Can there be any comparison between Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Siddaramaiah? Siddaramaiah hops from one party to another for power. This comparison has no meaning at all."
Ashoka also highlighted Krishnaraja Wadiyar's enduring legacy. "The Krishnaraja Sagar dam, improvements of the irrigation system, introduction of electricity in the state — a first in India — and the foundations for higher education and industrialisation were all achieved by the Maharaja.
If there was anyone who worked towards social justice in Karnataka, it was the Mysuru Maharaja whereas Siddaramaiah is creating rift between castes," he said.
Siddaramaiah avoided mentioning the late Maharaja and instead turned his attention to political rivals. "We have done more work than BJP. The saffron party has done nothing, but we have done more," he told the media at Arsikere in Hassan district, when asked about Yathindra's comments.
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