Karnataka Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Thursday, 3 September issued a sharp public challenge to Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, daring him to a face-to-face debate at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru after Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress minister had been seen standing at a gate while holding a phone at around 9 p.m. The counter-offensive escalated an already bitter political exchange between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)–BJP camp.

The Challenge at Vidhana Soudha

Speaking to reporters, Cheluvarayaswamy made clear he was prepared to go on the offensive. 'If I start making statements about him, he will not be able to take it. If he thinks he has the strength to take it, let him come to any room in Vidhana Soudha of his choice. We will call the media and discuss it. If he has the capacity, let him sit and discuss,' the Minister said.

The tone was unambiguous — Cheluvarayaswamy signalled that a public debate would expose far more damaging details about Kumaraswamy than the JD-S leader may be prepared to handle.

The '9 p.m.' Allegation and the Deve Gowda Revelation

Kumaraswamy had alleged that Cheluvarayaswamy used to visit residences at night and had once been spotted at a gate around 9 p.m., holding a phone — questioning whom he was allegedly pleading with and whose home he had visited. Rather than deny the visit outright, Cheluvarayaswamy offered a striking explanation: the residence in question belonged to former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy's own father.

'Yes, at that time I had knocked on the doors of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. If that is wrong, I am ready to apologise,' he said. He then turned the narrative around, recounting that Deve Gowda had telephoned him at around 5 a.m. on that occasion, asking him to locate the then Chief Minister — H.D. Kumaraswamy — who had reportedly gone 'missing' for two days in 2006 or 2007, and to ensure he reached the Assembly session by 10 a.m.

'Deve Gowda told me that your Chief Minister has gone missing and you should find him wherever he has gone. He asked me to ensure that he came to the Assembly by 10 a.m.,' Cheluvarayaswamy said, challenging the media to independently verify the circumstances.

The Broader Political Battle

The personal exchange is part of a wider confrontation between the two sides. Kumaraswamy has also targeted the Congress government over the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, alleging that the state releases water at night and 'stages a drama in the morning.' He further alleged that former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and he would be dragged into the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam — an allegation Cheluvarayaswamy has not directly addressed.

Notably, Kumaraswamy had also accused Cheluvarayaswamy of travelling to Delhi over water-related issues even as Cauvery water was being released to Tamil Nadu, framing it as political theatre.

Cheluvarayaswamy's Political Journey and JD-S Ties

The exchange carries an added layer of irony given Cheluvarayaswamy's history. He was once a close aide of the Deve Gowda family during his years with the JD-S. He crossed over to the Indian National Congress (Congress) on 25 March 2018, alongside other rebel JD-S MLAs, during a visit by then Congress President Rahul Gandhi to Mysuru.

Since joining the Congress, he has positioned himself as a prominent figure in the party, reportedly close to both former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — both longstanding political rivals of the Deve Gowda family.

What Comes Next

The latest salvos add another layer to the Congress–JD-S-BJP confrontation over the KPSC scam, Cauvery water politics, and the conduct of the Karnataka government. Whether Kumaraswamy accepts the Vidhana Soudha debate challenge — or chooses to escalate through other means — will set the tone for the next phase of this political standoff.