Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday, 29 October launched a sharp attack on Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, accusing him of misusing his ministerial position and leveraging his political connections because his father, Mallikarjun Kharge, serves as the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). The verbal offensive, delivered via a strongly worded public statement from Bengaluru, marks a fresh escalation in the running feud between the Janata Dal (Secular)-backed Union Minister and the Congress-led Karnataka government.

The Core Allegations

Kumaraswamy dubbed Priyank Kharge a 'minister of slander', alleging that the Home Minister spent more time targeting political opponents than governing. He accused Kharge of suffering from an identity crisis and seeking daily targets — cycling through the RSS, the SIR, and Kumaraswamy himself. 'If you cannot find anyone, you start attacking yourself,' Kumaraswamy said in his statement.

The Union Minister alleged that Kharge had cast a shadow over Karnataka's administration and had lost his sense of judgment. He advised Kharge to 'seek treatment', claiming the Home Minister's thinking, speech, discretion, and work had all gone off track — remarks that critics may view as unparliamentary in tone.

KPSC Controversy Resurfaces

Kumaraswamy renewed his threat to expose irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) controversy, directly linking the issue to Priyank Kharge. 'I know that you are keeping an eye on my every move. But you also know that I am the one who has deprived you of sleep. Do you remember the KPSC controversy? I will not let that matter go without exposing the irregularities,' he warned. The KPSC has previously been embroiled in allegations of irregularities in recruitment processes, and Kumaraswamy's renewed focus signals he intends to keep the controversy in the political spotlight.

Sting Operation Row and Internal Congress Tensions

Kumaraswamy also trained his fire on an ongoing sting operation controversy, alleging that Kharge was shielding the person behind the sting while aggressively pursuing those who uploaded the recordings. He described the situation as a 'confluence of three' — the 'sting king', the 'sting pin', and the protector — in a pointed characterisation of Kharge's alleged role.

Adding a layer of intra-Congress intrigue, Kumaraswamy alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Priyank Kharge had collectively misled Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and conspired to undermine Siddaramaiah's position. He further claimed that Congress ministers and legislators had privately shared information about the Home Minister's alleged activities with him.

The Siddaramaiah Meeting Question

Kumaraswamy questioned what transpired when Priyank Kharge met Siddaramaiah, claiming that his own information suggested the meeting had ended in a reprimand. He challenged Kharge to disclose the details publicly. 'The passage of time will decide your worth and arrogance, given your alleged association with those behind the sting conspiracy. Do not try to threaten others, Home Minister,' Kumaraswamy warned, invoking a cautionary proverb: 'When destruction is imminent, the mind works perversely.'

Political Context

This comes amid ongoing tensions between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-allied Kumaraswamy and the Congress government in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy, who heads the Janata Dal (Secular) and serves as a Union Minister in the BJP-led central government, has consistently targeted the Karnataka administration since the Congress swept to power in the state in 2023. The latest exchange suggests that political friction ahead of local body elections and potential state-level positioning is intensifying. How Priyank Kharge and the Congress leadership respond to the KPSC and sting operation allegations is likely to shape the next phase of this confrontation.