HD Kumaraswamy emerges as NDA’s combative face in Karnataka ahead of local body polls

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has emerged as the NDA’s most aggressive political voice in Karnataka ahead of the panchayat and urban local body elections, mounting a sustained campaign against Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Over the past few months, hardly a day has gone by without Kumaraswamy issuing statements, holding protests or raising fresh allegations against the state government. His attacks have intensified following Congress leader Siddaramaiah's police complaint seeking action against content linking him to an alleged honey-trap episode.

Even as the Congress has focused on nationwide protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kumaraswamy has pressed police for action behind the alleged sting operation, projecting Siddaramaiah as a victim of his own party regime’s inaction. The unusual political positioning has put both Shivakumar and the Congress on the defensive.


The JD(S) leader's activism is notable given his long-standing political rivalry with Siddaramaiah. The Deve Gowda family, however, remains deeply anguished by the mass circulation of pen-drives during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Hassan. The pen drives, though aimed at Prajwal Revanna, contained explicit clips of women with their faces revealed.

Kumaraswamy, who represents Mandya in the Lok Sabha, has sharpened his focus on state politics by targeting projects Shivakumar is keen to pursue. He first flagged alleged irregularities in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor project promoted by NICE and later spearheaded opposition to the proposed Bidadi township project, which envisages investments of about Rs 18,200 crore across 7,481 acres.

In both campaigns, he sought to mobilise farmers affected by land acquisition and turn discontent against the Congress government.

His latest intervention involves pressing the police to act against those allegedly involved in the sting-operation controversy surrounding Siddaramaiah. Beyond the immediate issue, political observers see the campaign as an attempt to portray the Congress leadership as reluctant to stand firmly behind Siddaramaiah and potentially widen fault lines within the party's social coalition.

The political contest also carries a community dimension. Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy, both influential Vokkaliga leaders, draw support from overlapping regions in southern Karnataka and are competing for dominance within the community ahead of future elections.

Kumaraswamy's increasing engagement in state politics is driven by more than immediate controversies. The JD(S) views the upcoming local body elections as an important test before the 2028 Assembly polls. The party is also keen to revive its organisational strength and create political space for Nikhil Kumaraswamy after a series of electoral setbacks.

At 66, Kumaraswamy has positioned himself as the NDA's principal attack spearhead in Karnataka. His relentless campaign against the Congress has raised the stakes for the ruling party ahead of the local body polls, where the electoral outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of political momentum heading into the next Assembly election.