Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday called for a judge-monitored investigation into the alleged sting operation targeting Karnataka political leaders, while accusing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of deliberately stoking the controversy to deflect public attention from the state's severe drought crisis.

Joshi's Core Allegations

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Joshi argued that the focus of public discourse had shifted to identifying who orchestrated the sting operation, rather than addressing urgent issues including drought, drinking water shortages, and the state government's alleged failure to implement adequate relief measures. He charged that Shivakumar was using the controversy to widen the rift with Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and shield the administration from accountability.

Joshi maintained that Kumaraswamy had already presented facts and figures and sought a court-monitored inquiry, but alleged that Shivakumar was resisting such a probe because it could expose governmental failures. 'Those in public life should maintain morality,' Joshi said, pressing for greater attention to the drought and drinking water crisis.

He also raised the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) scam, alleging that several ministers could be implicated and that a thorough probe might destabilise the state government.

Bommai Calls for CBI Probe

Former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai described the alleged sting operation as an 'unfortunate development,' arguing that political opponents should be defeated through elections rather than targeted through covert operations designed to end their careers.

Bommai questioned Shivakumar's initial statements on the alleged sting operations and his subsequent silence, demanding that the Chief Minister publicly identify the five ministers who were reportedly targeted. He said the episode had grown significantly in scope, emboldening those involved, and called it a sign of declining political values in the state.

Rejecting an isolated inquiry as insufficient, Bommai demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the full episode, including the alleged involvement of the five ministers. He noted that state government officials investigating a matter involving state ministers would lack credibility. He also pointed out that more than a week had elapsed since the complaint was lodged, and while YouTubers who uploaded the videos had been arrested, the individuals who allegedly produced, financed, and planned the operation remained unidentified.

Former BJP MP Urges Caution

Former BJP Member of Parliament Pratap Simha took a comparatively measured stance, saying that since Kumaraswamy had sought an investigation and the government was conducting one, the matter should be allowed to proceed through the probe. Simha noted that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was at the centre of the controversy and had himself lodged a complaint, questioning why the issue was being projected as the state's most pressing problem.

'Siddaramaiah is our political opponent, but his character should not be tarnished every day,' Simha said. He also alleged that the Indian National Congress (Congress) had considerable prior experience in conducting sting operations.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The controversy comes amid mounting pressure on the Karnataka government over drought relief, with opposition leaders arguing that administrative bandwidth is being consumed by political firefighting. Notably, the sting operation row has drawn in multiple BJP factions — with Joshi, Bommai, and Simha each staking out distinct positions on the appropriate scope and agency for an investigation.

The government's next move on the probe — whether it expands the inquiry's scope or resists calls for a CBI or court-monitored investigation — is expected to shape the political narrative in Karnataka in the weeks ahead.