Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday, 15 October 2026, escalated his offensive against Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging that the individual accused of orchestrating a sting operation targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was operating under political protection. Kumaraswamy's remarks, posted on social media platform X, reignited a bitter war of words between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the ruling Congress government in Bengaluru.

Kumaraswamy's Allegations Against Priyank Kharge

In his post, Kumaraswamy accused the Congress government of pursuing innocent individuals instead of targeting the alleged orchestrator of the sting operation. Questioning Kharge's fitness for the Home portfolio, he asked: 'Priyank Kharge, the Congress government's so-called blue-eyed boy, has a lot to answer for. If a sting operation targeting Siddaramaiah has triggered a political crisis within your own party, why are innocent people being hounded instead of the person behind the operation? Is this how you discharge the responsibilities of the Home portfolio?'

Kumaraswamy also took aim at Kharge's invocations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and social justice, questioning whether Kharge genuinely championed Dalit empowerment. He asked why Kharge had not contested from a general constituency to make way for a Dalit candidate, rather than continuing to benefit from a reserved seat alongside his father.

The 'Sting Samrat' Claim and Alleged Extortion Links

Kumaraswamy went further, alleging that the person accused of conducting the sting had also threatened a retired IPS officer and faced claims of deploying sting operations against police personnel to extort money. He questioned why no meaningful action had been taken despite these allegations.

'The more I see this, the more serious the questions become: Is the so-called "Sting Samrat" operating with political protection? And is Priyank Kharge part of the network that shields him?' Kumaraswamy asked in his post.

The Union Minister also referenced his earlier intervention on the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) issue, claiming the government had been scrambling to manage the fallout ever since he raised both matters publicly. 'Kumaraswamy does not beg anyone for anything. Ask your Police Commissioner what I told him,' he said.

Kharge Fires Back

Home Minister Priyank Kharge had earlier taken a sharp dig at Kumaraswamy for staging a protest outside the Bengaluru Police Commissioner's office. 'RSS's new blue-eyed boy goes ballistic before the media, demanding an investigation. The moment the investigation begins, he runs to the Commissioner pleading, "Don't investigate my boys,"' Kharge said, accusing the Union Minister of double standards.

Background and What It Means for Karnataka Politics

The row centres on an alleged sting operation purportedly aimed at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the details of which remain contested. This is not the first time the JD(S) and Congress have clashed in Karnataka since the 2023 Assembly elections, but the exchange marks a notable escalation — with a Union Minister directly questioning the conduct of a state Home Minister. The controversy also intersects with the ongoing KPSC recruitment row, compounding pressure on the Siddaramaiah administration.

With both sides trading pointed allegations, the dispute is unlikely to be resolved quickly, and the political fallout could intensify as opposition parties seek accountability from the state government ahead of upcoming local body elections.