Karnataka Dy CM Parameshwara: sting operation conspiracy against Congress ministers cannot be ruled out
Synopsis
Karnataka's Deputy CM G. Parameshwara has openly refused to rule out conspiracies against Congress ministers, saying CM D.K. Shivakumar's sting-operation warning to his cabinet was backed by Intelligence inputs — while Home Minister Priyank Kharge went further, naming the IT Department, ED, and CBI as tools of a Centre-driven destabilisation effort. The episode sharpens an already volatile political confrontation in the state.
Key Takeaways
Parameshwara said on 8 October 2026 that the possibility of conspiracies and sting operations against Karnataka's Congress ministers 'cannot be ruled out.' CM D.K.
Shivakumar had earlier cautioned ministers about possible sting operations, reportedly acting on Intelligence wing inputs.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge alleged that the IT Department , ED , and CBI are being used by the Centre to destabilise the Karnataka government.
Kumaraswamy counter-alleged that Shivakumar himself was behind the sting operations — a charge the Congress dismissed as 'jealousy.' Kharge cited alleged precedents in Maharashtra , Assam , Goa , Andhra Pradesh , and Madhya Pradesh as evidence of a pattern.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday, 8 October 2026, said the possibility of conspiracies and sting operations targeting state government ministers could not be ruled out. Speaking to reporters at Gunnala village in Koppal district, Parameshwara backed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's earlier caution to Congress ministers, saying the warning was likely based on credible Intelligence inputs.
What Parameshwara Said
'The Chief Minister has an Intelligence wing with him and he might also have received Intelligence inputs in this regard. Based on this, he might have told the ministers to be careful about sting operations,' Parameshwara told reporters.
Drawing on his own experience as Home Minister, he added: 'I was also Home Minister for eight years. We receive Intelligence inputs and, when we get reports, the Chief Minister communicates accordingly.' When pressed on whether conspiracies were at play, he was unequivocal: 'There are chances. I won't rule it out. There might be conspiracies. These developments are likely to happen.'
Home Minister Kharge Alleges Central Agency Pressure
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge went further, directly alleging that the Centre was making continuous efforts to bring down the Congress government in the state. He claimed that the Income Tax Department, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were being deployed alongside sting operations for this purpose.
'The central government is desperate to dislodge the government in Karnataka. The reason is simple. We have delivered and reached the guarantees to the people without any issues,' Kharge said. He also alleged that similar methods had previously been used against Congress-led governments in Maharashtra, Assam, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The Kumaraswamy Counter-Claim
The controversy intensified after Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that Chief Minister Shivakumar himself was orchestrating sting operations against his own ministers — a charge that drew sharp reactions from the ruling Congress. Kharge dismissed the claim, attributing it to 'jealousy' over Shivakumar's active public engagement. 'I don't know from where Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy got his information,' Kharge said, adding that the Intelligence inputs received by the Chief Minister and senior ministers pointed to external agency pressure, not an internal operation.
Background and Political Context
The episode follows CM Shivakumar's public admission that attempts had earlier been made to trap him after he assumed office. The Congress government in Karnataka has been locked in a sustained confrontation with the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) Opposition over allegations of destabilisation efforts. This comes amid a broader national pattern of ruling parties in opposition-governed states accusing central agencies of politically motivated action — a charge the Centre has consistently denied.
Notably, this is not the first time a state government has raised the spectre of sting operations ahead of a potential political crisis. The Congress's decision to go public with the Intelligence warnings signals that the party is bracing for a turbulent period and wants to frame any future adverse development as externally engineered.
What Happens Next
The political temperature in Karnataka is likely to remain elevated as both sides harden their positions. Opposition leaders are expected to demand specifics on the Intelligence inputs cited by the Deputy Chief Minister and the Home Minister. How the Congress manages internal cohesion — and whether any sting footage eventually surfaces — will determine whether this remains a political spat or escalates into a governance crisis.
Point of View
The party pre-emptively frames any future embarrassment as fabricated. But the credibility of that framing depends on whether the government can produce specifics: who is behind the alleged operations, and what exactly did the Intelligence inputs say. Parameshwara's eight years as Home Minister lend the claim institutional weight, yet neither he nor Kharge offered verifiable detail. The Kumaraswamy counter-allegation — that Shivakumar is running the stings himself — muddies the water further, and the truth of either claim will only emerge if footage surfaces. Until then, Karnataka politics is operating in a fog of competing accusations, with the BJP-JD(S) Opposition holding a ready narrative if anything damaging does break.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karnataka Deputy CM G. Parameshwara say about sting operations?
Parameshwara said the possibility of conspiracies and sting operations targeting Congress ministers in Karnataka could not be ruled out, and that CM D.K. Shivakumar's warning to his cabinet was likely based on Intelligence inputs. He drew on his own eight years as Home Minister to explain that such intelligence-based advisories are routine.
Why did CM D.K. Shivakumar warn his ministers about sting operations?
According to Parameshwara, Shivakumar received information through the government's Intelligence wing suggesting that sting agencies were targeting Congress ministers. Shivakumar also claimed that attempts had been made to trap him personally after he became Chief Minister.
What did Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge allege?
Kharge alleged that the Centre was using the Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, and CBI — alongside sting operations — to destabilise the Congress government in Karnataka. He cited alleged precedents in Maharashtra, Assam, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh as evidence of a broader pattern.
What did Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy claim?
Kumaraswamy alleged that CM Shivakumar himself was orchestrating sting operations against his own ministers. Congress leaders rejected the claim, with Kharge attributing it to 'jealousy' over Shivakumar's active work among the people.
What is the broader political context of these allegations?
The dispute is part of an escalating confrontation between Karnataka's ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) Opposition. The Congress government has repeatedly alleged that central agencies are being weaponised against opposition-ruled states, while the Opposition denies coordinated destabilisation and has challenged the Congress to produce evidence of the Intelligence inputs cited.
