Karnataka CM Shivakumar silent on sting row as minister calls Kumaraswamy 'chameleon'
Synopsis
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar chose silence over confrontation as Kumaraswamy's 'sting samrat' allegations swirled, but his minister H.C. Balakrishna drew blood — branding the JD-S chief a political 'chameleon' who shifts loyalties to suit whoever holds power. With a court stay in place and two ministers walking away from cameras, the Congress appears to be playing a long game rather than taking the bait.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar declined to respond to H.D.
Kumaraswamy 's attack on 15 October 2026 , walking away with the phrase 'Let good things happen.' Kumaraswamy labelled Shivakumar the 'sting samrat' and dared him and Home Minister Priyank Kharge to arrest him over the alleged sting operation row.
Municipal Administration Minister H.C.
Balakrishna called Kumaraswamy a 'chameleon' , accusing him of shifting political stances to suit whoever is in power.
Labour Minister Santhosh Lad also refused to comment, covering his ears and walking away from reporters.
Former CM Siddaramaiah has obtained a court stay connected to the controversy.
The row reflects deepening tension between the ruling Congress and the JD-S in Karnataka.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 15 October 2026, declined to comment on Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy's blistering attack over the alleged sting operation controversy, a row that has sharply escalated political tensions in the state. As journalists sought his reaction outside the Cabinet meeting, Shivakumar folded his hands in greeting and walked away, offering only the words: 'Let good things happen.'
The Sting Operation Row Explained
The controversy centres on an alleged sting operation that Kumaraswamy claims was orchestrated to target him using state police and government machinery. The JD-S state chief has publicly dared Chief Minister Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge to arrest him, accusing the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) government of misusing its authority. Kumaraswamy labelled Shivakumar the 'sting samrat', alleging the Chief Minister believed his political influence placed him above accountability. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, also implicated in the political crossfire, has reportedly obtained a court stay in connection with the matter.
Minister Fires Back at Kumaraswamy
Municipal Administration Minister H.C. Balakrishna, speaking in Mysuru, launched a pointed counter-offensive against Kumaraswamy, describing his frequently shifting political allegiances as a pattern of opportunism. Balakrishna accused Kumaraswamy of attacking Siddaramaiah when the latter held power, only to now extend apparent support to him after Shivakumar consolidated his position.
'It is not known when Kumaraswamy will change his colours. He is showering love on Siddaramaiah now. His love is dangerous, and that is why I moved away from him,' Balakrishna said. He also took aim at Kumaraswamy's habit of holding daily press conferences, saying: 'Like a chameleon, he keeps changing his colours' — a remark that encapsulates the Congress's broader line of attack against the JD-S leader.
Labour Minister Also Stays Quiet
Labour Minister Santhosh Lad mirrored Shivakumar's studied silence, covering both ears with his hands and walking away when reporters pressed him for a response — a gesture that underscored the Congress government's apparent decision to avoid direct engagement with the controversy at the ministerial level.
Wider Political Context
This comes amid an intensifying war of words between the ruling Congress and the opposition over the alleged sting operation, with Kumaraswamy positioning himself as a target of state overreach and the Congress defending its investigative processes. Notably, the JD-S, now in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, has been on a collision course with the Karnataka government on multiple fronts since Congress swept to power in the state. The episode also places fresh pressure on the Congress high command, which must balance its defence of Shivakumar with managing perceptions of the government's law-enforcement credibility.
With Siddaramaiah's court stay temporarily halting proceedings and no public response from the Chief Minister, the controversy appears set to deepen in the coming days.
Point of View
Not a concession — by refusing to engage, he denies Kumaraswamy the oxygen of a direct headline clash. But the optics of two senior ministers visibly walking away from cameras on the same day suggest a coordinated strategy that could read as evasion to voters already sceptical of the state government's handling of the sting controversy. Balakrishna's 'chameleon' jibe is sharper than it looks: it frames Kumaraswamy's outreach to Siddaramaiah not as a principled opposition move but as the latest in a long series of political repositioning manoeuvres — a narrative the Congress will press hard. The real question is whether the court stay shields the Congress from further escalation, or whether Kumaraswamy will find new angles to keep the pressure on as Karnataka heads toward an increasingly combative political season.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the alleged sting operation row in Karnataka?
The row involves an alleged sting operation that JD-S leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy claims was orchestrated against him using Karnataka's state police and government machinery. Kumaraswamy has publicly accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge of misusing state power to target him, while the Congress government has defended its investigative processes.
Why did CM Shivakumar not respond to Kumaraswamy's attack?
Shivakumar chose not to engage, folding his hands in greeting and walking away with only the words 'Let good things happen' before chairing the Cabinet meeting. No official reason was given; the move appeared to be a deliberate decision by the Congress leadership to avoid direct public confrontation on the issue.
What did minister H.C. Balakrishna say about Kumaraswamy?
Municipal Administration Minister H.C. Balakrishna called Kumaraswamy a 'chameleon' who constantly changes his political colours depending on who holds power. He alleged that Kumaraswamy attacked former CM Siddaramaiah when Siddaramaiah was in office but is now expressing support for him after Shivakumar assumed power — calling this dangerous opportunism.
What is the current legal status of the sting operation case?
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly obtained a court stay connected to the matter, which Balakrishna cited as grounds for no further discussion being necessary. The stay temporarily limits the legal proceedings around the case.
How does this row fit into the broader Karnataka political picture?
The episode reflects sustained friction between the ruling Congress government in Karnataka and the JD-S, which is allied with the BJP at the Centre. Kumaraswamy has repeatedly clashed with the Shivakumar administration on multiple fronts since Congress won the state election, and this row adds to an already contentious political atmosphere ahead of future electoral cycles.
