HD Kumaraswamy alleges DK Shivakumar used sting operation to oust Siddaramaiah

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, October 7, alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had conducted a “sting operation” against his predecessor Siddaramaiah and that the material was used to force him out of the post.

Kumaraswamy made the allegation while reacting to Shivakumar’s reported warning to his Cabinet colleagues about possible sting operations targeting ministers. He claimed that Shivakumar was now using the threat to keep his ministers under control.

“Congress leaders themselves have told me that Shivakumar became Chief Minister after carrying out a sting operation and submitting it to the high command,” Kumaraswamy told reporters at the Janata Dal (Secular) office in Bengaluru.

He alleged that Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi on the pretext of discussions on Cabinet expansion but was instead confronted with the alleged sting material and pressured to resign. Kumaraswamy claimed the Congress high command, Shivakumar, and a media organisation were involved.

Kumaraswamy did not provide details of the alleged sting operation, including when it was conducted, what it purportedly recorded, or what material was allegedly used against Siddaramaiah. “Who conducted the sting, who was behind it, and which media organisation was involved are known to everyone,” he said.

He also questioned Shivakumar’s warning to his ministers, asking whether the Chief Minister did not trust his Cabinet colleagues and whether this was how a state should be governed.

Shivakumar had reportedly cautioned his ministers at a Cabinet meeting on October 6 to remain vigilant about possible sting operations. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Municipalities Minister HC Balakrishna confirmed that the Chief Minister had raised the issue.

Parameshwara said Shivakumar, who holds the Intelligence portfolio, had received information from the department and had therefore asked ministers to be careful. Balakrishna said the warning was about possible attempts by the Opposition to defame the government.

According to media reports, Shivakumar also showed ministers a file containing details of alleged ongoing sting operations and a list of around five ministers who were purportedly being targeted. 

Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar had previously used similar tactics against political rivals and referred to the controversies involving Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Jarkiholi and Congress leader KN Rajanna.

Jarkiholi resigned as Karnataka Water Resources Minister in 2021 after a video purportedly involving him surfaced in connection with allegations of a sex-for-job arrangement, which he denied.

Kumaraswamy also referred to Rajanna’s earlier statement in the Assembly that several politicians had allegedly been victims of honey traps and sting operations. He questioned what happened to those allegations and asked who had conducted such operations.

Kumaraswamy claimed Shivakumar was now trying to shift the blame onto the Opposition by warning ministers about possible sting operations. He also alleged that Cabinet discussions had shifted from development and governance to “honey traps and sting operations”.

The Congress rejected the allegations. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Media and Communication Department chairman Ramesh Babu described Kumaraswamy’s claim that Siddaramaiah was removed through a sting operation as politically motivated and baseless.

“Kumaraswamy’s allegation is nothing but a politically motivated and baseless attempt to create confusion within the Congress party,” Ramesh Babu said.

He said Siddaramaiah’s political standing and mass support did not depend on “secret operations or conspiracies” and that decisions within the Congress were taken through established party processes.

Ramesh Babu also accused Kumaraswamy of ignoring controversies involving alleged recordings, phone tapping, and sting operations associated with his own political career. He alleged that the Union minister was making the claims to please the BJP and safeguard his position in the Union government.

The allegation comes months after Shivakumar replaced Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister following a prolonged leadership dispute within the Congress. Siddaramaiah resigned after the Congress leadership asked him to step down and said he would continue in active politics.