BJP MLA Jarkiholi meets Siddaramaiah in Mysuru amid sting op row
Synopsis
A BJP MLA who was himself forced out of office by a sting operation controversy in 2021 has now quietly visited the Congress leader targeted by a fresh one — over lunch. The cross-party meeting in Mysuru, combined with Congress allegations linking both operations to the same actors, has turned a polarising political scandal into something far more complicated.
Key Takeaways
BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi met former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at his Mysuru residence on 14 October 2026 amid a sting operation controversy.
Siddaramaiah has obtained a court stay against the dissemination of allegedly defamatory audio and video clips linked to the reported sting.
Rajanna alleged that the same operatives behind Jarkiholi's 2021 CD controversy are responsible for the current sting targeting Siddaramaiah.
Jarkiholi said he visited to discuss unrelated matters and called Siddaramaiah 'our leader', while declining to speak on the sting operation.
The controversy has revived speculation about D.K.
Shivakumar's alleged role in the 2021 CD release — a claim for which no evidence has been presented.
Rajanna also claimed a sting operation attempt was made against him during his own ministerial tenure.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi met former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence in T.K. Layout, Mysuru on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, holding a private discussion that has drawn significant political attention amid an ongoing sting operation controversy. The meeting comes days after Siddaramaiah approached a Bengaluru court and obtained a stay against the dissemination of allegedly defamatory audio and video clips linked to a reported sting operation targeting him.
What Happened at the Meeting
Jarkiholi visited Siddaramaiah's Mysuru residence and spent time in discussions with the Congress Working Committee member. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Jarkiholi said he had come to discuss other matters and that the sting operation was not the subject of their conversation.
'I will not speak about the sting operation. I had come to meet Siddaramaiah to discuss other matters. Irrespective of which party he belongs to, he is our leader,' Jarkiholi said. Siddaramaiah, for his part, played down the visit. 'He came to enquire about my well-being. Ramesh came, had lunch and left,' he said.
Why the Meeting Carries Political Weight
The cross-party interaction has acquired significance because Congress leaders have alleged that the operatives behind the sting operation targeting Siddaramaiah are the same individuals responsible for the controversial CD involving Jarkiholi himself in 2021 — a controversy that forced Jarkiholi to resign as a minister in the then-BJP government.
Former minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna, a close associate of Siddaramaiah, stated on Tuesday: 'You tell us who was behind Ramesh Jarkiholi's CD? Those who got his CD done have got Siddaramaiah's as well.' Rajanna made the remarks in Bengaluru, though he did not present evidence to substantiate the claim.
Siddaramaiah Stays Silent on Sting Op
When reporters in Mysuru pressed Siddaramaiah for a reaction to the sting operation controversy, he declined to elaborate, saying he had already obtained a court stay and would not comment further. Jarkiholi also said he believed Siddaramaiah should have challenged the issue directly rather than seeking a judicial stay, though he stopped short of elaborating on his reasons.
Background: The Shivakumar Angle and Intra-Congress Tensions
The controversy has revived political speculation over the alleged involvement of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the 2021 release of the purported CD involving Jarkiholi. Notably, Rajanna's remarks did not establish any evidence of Shivakumar's involvement in the current episode.
This comes against the backdrop of reported differences between Rajanna and Shivakumar in 2025, when Rajanna had publicly stated his readiness to take on the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President — a position held by Shivakumar at the time. Rajanna had also demanded that a Dalit leader be made Chief Minister in the event of any change in state leadership. Rajanna further claimed on Tuesday that an attempt had been made to conduct a sting operation against him as well during his tenure as a minister in the previous Siddaramaiah-led cabinet.
What Comes Next
With the court stay in place and the BJP MLA's visit adding a new layer to an already charged political environment, the sting operation row shows no signs of abating. The question of who commissioned the alleged operations — and whether it connects the Jarkiholi and Siddaramaiah episodes — is likely to dominate Karnataka politics in the coming days.
Point of View
But the optics are unmistakable: a BJP leader who knows the cost of a sting operation firsthand has walked across party lines to sit with the Congress leader now facing one. Congress's insinuation that both operations share the same architects is a serious allegation — and one that conveniently redirects scrutiny toward Shivakumar at a moment when intra-party rivalries in Karnataka Congress are already raw. Without evidence, Rajanna's claims function more as political positioning than accountability. The bigger story here may not be the sting operations themselves, but the fractured state of the ruling Congress in Karnataka.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi visit Siddaramaiah in Mysuru?
Jarkiholi visited Siddaramaiah's residence in T.K. Layout, Mysuru on 14 October 2026 for a private discussion, saying he had come to discuss matters unrelated to the sting operation. Siddaramaiah described the visit as a welfare check, saying Jarkiholi 'came, had lunch and left.'
What is the sting operation controversy surrounding Siddaramaiah?
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approached a Bengaluru court seeking an injunction against the circulation and broadcast of allegedly defamatory audio and video clips linked to a reported sting operation targeting him. The court granted a stay against dissemination of the content.
Who is Congress alleging is behind the sting operations?
Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna has alleged that the same individuals behind the 2021 CD controversy involving Ramesh Jarkiholi are also responsible for the current sting targeting Siddaramaiah. Rajanna did not present evidence to support this claim.
What was the 2021 CD controversy involving Jarkiholi?
In 2021, a purported CD involving Ramesh Jarkiholi led to a major political controversy in Karnataka that compelled him to resign from his ministerial post in the then-BJP government. The episode has resurfaced in the current political discourse over the alleged sting on Siddaramaiah.
How does the Shivakumar angle fit into this controversy?
The current row has revived political speculation about alleged involvement of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the 2021 CD controversy. However, according to reports, no evidence has been presented linking Shivakumar to either episode. The speculation also surfaces amid reported differences between Shivakumar and Congress MLA Rajanna, who had previously sought the KPCC presidency held by Shivakumar.
