Karnataka: Kumaraswamy alleges ‘sting operation’ led to Siddaramaiah’s exit as Karnataka CM

Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday alleged that an alleged “sting operation” involving Chief Minister D K Shivakumar played a role in Siddaramaiah stepping down as CM.

Kumaraswamy, in a chat with the media, made the allegation in response to reports that Shivakumar had chaired a Cabinet meeting where he warned ministers about alleged sting operations being conducted against some of them.

Kumaraswamy, who is also the JDS State president, alleged that Siddaramaiah, a senior Congress leader with a strong support base among AHINDA communities, had been targeted as part of a political operation involving Shivakumar, the Congress high command and a media organisation.


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The union minister claimed Siddaramaiah had travelled to Delhi expecting discussions on Cabinet expansion but was instead confronted with the alleged sting operation and subsequently pressured to resign.

“The way his resignation was extracted was not appropriate. The Congress did not treat such a senior leader with the respect he deserved,” Kumaraswamy said.

Asked who was behind the alleged operation, Kumaraswamy said those involved were known to political circles and that a media organisation was also involved. He claimed some Congress leaders had shared details of the matter with him.

Kumaraswamy also alleged that Shivakumar had warned his Cabinet colleagues to be cautious because they too could face similar operations. He questioned Shivakumar’s reported concerns over sting operations and alleged that similar tactics had been used against former ministers Ramesh Jarkiholi and K N Rajanna.

Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar was using such operations to exert control over ministers. He alleged that similar tactics had earlier been used against the Deve Gowda family.

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He criticised the focus on alleged sting operations at Cabinet meetings, saying the government should instead be discussing development and governance.

“Earlier, Cabinet meetings used to discuss development issues. Today, the discussion has shifted to honey traps and sting operations,” he said.

Kumaraswamy further alleged that Congress MLAs had told him about such activities and accused Shivakumar of focusing on political operations rather than governance.