Karnataka BJP targets Rahul Gandhi: 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' now 'Sting Operation Ki Dukaan'
Synopsis
BJP's R. Ashoka has turned Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' slogan on its head, calling it a 'Sting Operation Ki Dukaan' amid a widening Karnataka controversy over alleged covert recordings and blackmail among Congress ranks. The attack is pointed, personal, and timed to deepen the BJP's narrative of a ruling party in crisis.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka alleged on 24 October that Karnataka Congress ministers were using sting operations to blackmail party members and secure tickets.
Ashoka targeted Rahul Gandhi , questioning whether covert recordings and alleged extortion aligned with Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' ethos.
Shivakumar was accused of being a 'helpless spectator' to the alleged internal blackmail controversy.
Ashoka described the KPCC as 'a syndicate thriving on dirty tricks' — allegations denied by the Congress party.
The BJP warned the Congress leadership that 'the countdown has begun,' signalling intent to press the issue politically.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R. Ashoka on Saturday, 24 October launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that Gandhi's signature slogan 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' had effectively transformed into a 'Sting Operation Ki Dukaan' amid a widening controversy over alleged covert recordings and blackmail politics in Karnataka. Ashoka's remarks came as the alleged sting operation row triggered fierce exchanges between the BJP and the ruling Congress in the state.
Key Allegations by R. Ashoka
In a strongly worded statement, R. Ashoka alleged that Karnataka's political landscape had sunk to a new low, with ruling party leaders reportedly engaging in conspiracies and backstabbing against their own colleagues. He claimed that ministers within the Congress government were allegedly using secret sting operations as tools to blackmail party members, secure election tickets, and settle personal scores.
'The KPCC is no longer a political party — it is a syndicate thriving on dirty tricks,' Ashoka alleged. He further questioned whether covert recordings, alleged extortion, and attempts to undermine senior party leaders reflected Rahul Gandhi's stated vision of 'Mohabbat', or love and brotherhood. He also questioned whether such activities formed part of the Karnataka government's much-publicised guarantee model.
Attack on Chief Minister Shivakumar
Ashoka also trained his guns on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alleging that his administration had been reduced to a 'helpless spectator' in the face of the controversy. 'When your own Cabinet ministers expose a web of internal blackmail and betrayal, it proves your administration is rotten to the core,' Ashoka alleged.
He issued what he framed as a political warning to the Congress leadership: 'The countdown has begun and your days are numbered.' The remarks are seen as an attempt by the BJP to capitalise on perceived internal discord within the ruling party.
The Sting Operation Controversy in Karnataka
The alleged sting operation row has been roiling Karnataka politics, with Opposition leaders demanding accountability over the recordings and raising broader questions about the Congress government's internal governance. Critics argue the episode reflects a deeper crisis of trust within the ruling establishment.
Ashoka characterised the situation as 'the most disgraceful internal warfare ever seen in the history of Karnataka politics,' alleging that Congress leaders were 'immersed in a dirty game of backstabbing and conspiracies against their own colleagues to grab power, cling to their positions and undermine one another.' These are BJP allegations and have not been independently verified.
Political Context and What Comes Next
This is not the first time the BJP has used Congress's internal fissures in Karnataka to mount political pressure. The party has consistently sought to portray the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar dual-leadership arrangement as inherently unstable. The sting operation row adds fresh ammunition to that narrative ahead of future electoral cycles in the state. Congress has yet to issue a formal response to Ashoka's specific allegations. How the ruling party manages this episode — both internally and in the public arena — will be closely watched in Bengaluru political circles in the days ahead.
Point of View
No minister named, no formal complaint filed. Karnataka's dual-leadership model under Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has always been a managed tension; the real question is whether this controversy reflects a structural rupture or a contained factional skirmish. The BJP's interest in amplifying it is obvious — but amplification alone does not constitute evidence, and the mainstream coverage risk is treating allegation as established fact.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karnataka sting operation controversy?
The controversy centres on allegations that Congress leaders in Karnataka were allegedly using secret recordings to blackmail party members, secure election tickets, and settle factional scores. The BJP has seized on the row to attack the ruling Congress government, though the allegations have not been independently verified.
What did R. Ashoka say about Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan'?
BJP leader R. Ashoka alleged that Rahul Gandhi's signature slogan 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' had become a 'Sting Operation Ki Dukaan', questioning whether covert recordings and alleged extortion within the Karnataka Congress reflected Gandhi's stated vision of love and brotherhood.
What allegations were made against CM D.K. Shivakumar?
Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's government had become a 'helpless spectator' to the sting operation controversy, and that Cabinet ministers exposing internal blackmail proved the administration was 'rotten to the core.' These are opposition allegations and have not been substantiated.
Why is the BJP raising this issue now?
The BJP has consistently sought to portray Karnataka's Congress government as riven by internal conflict between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar factions. The alleged sting operation row provides fresh political ammunition, particularly as the party looks to rebuild its base in the state ahead of future electoral contests.
Has the Congress responded to BJP's allegations?
As of 24 October, the Congress had not issued a formal public response to R. Ashoka's specific allegations. The party's official position on the sting operation controversy is awaited.
