Kumaraswamy questions Shivakumar over sting ops against Cong ministers
Synopsis
A Karnataka Cabinet warning meant to protect Congress ministers from alleged sting operations has boomeranged politically — with opposition leader Kumaraswamy now accusing CM Shivakumar of being the architect of the very surveillance, and Congress insiders reportedly linking a past sting to Siddaramaiah's exit as Chief Minister.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy on 7 October 2026 accused Karnataka CM D.K.
Shivakumar of conducting sting operations against his own Congress ministers.
Shivakumar had reportedly warned ministers at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting — attended for 52+ agenda items — to be careful about their movements and meetings.
Shivakumar is said to have named specific ministers under surveillance and warned four to five could be targeted.
Kumaraswamy claimed some Congress leaders themselves were linking a past sting to former CM Siddaramaiah's removal by the party high command.
Kumaraswamy also criticised the Cabinet's decision to hike milk prices by up to ₹8 per litre and flagged a leaked Finance Department note warning of fiscal stress.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, publicly questioned Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over alleged sting operations targeting Congress ministers in the state, saying Shivakumar's own warning to his Cabinet colleagues had raised serious suspicions about who was behind the surveillance.
What Kumaraswamy Said
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy pointed to remarks Shivakumar reportedly made during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, in which the Chief Minister is said to have warned ministers to be careful about their movements, interactions, and public appearances. 'Yesterday in the Cabinet, he advised his ministers, ‘Where are you going? Where are you sitting? Where are you spending your time? I am getting all the news. Some people are actually doing sting operations.’ I think he is the main person. Even without believing his own Cabinet ministers, he is trying to take control of all ministers by doing sting operations,' Kumaraswamy said.
He added that he was surprised the matter had reportedly dominated a Cabinet session in which more than 52 subjects were on the agenda.
What Happened Inside the Cabinet
According to reports, Shivakumar told ministers that inputs on the alleged sting operations had been received and urged them to exercise caution at events outside their official engagements. He is also said to have named certain ministers who were allegedly being tracked, warning that four to five ministers could potentially be targeted. The revelation reportedly left several Cabinet colleagues visibly unsettled.
The alleged surveillance has triggered concern within the ruling establishment over the possibility of politically damaging material being recorded and circulated ahead of the next Karnataka Assembly elections.
Siddaramaiah Angle and Congress Infighting
When asked whether the alleged operations were being carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), Kumaraswamy denied making that accusation. He instead claimed that some Congress leaders themselves were circulating reports implicating the alleged sting in the political fate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. 'No, I am not saying it. Congress friends themselves are saying it — that Siddaramaiah was removed by the high command because of this sting operation only. Some of their ministers and some important Congress leaders are spreading this news,' he said. The claim relates to what Kumaraswamy referred to as the ‘Rajanna issue,’ involving former minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna.
Milk Price Hike and Finance Note Leakage
Kumaraswamy also took aim at the state government over the Cabinet's decision to increase milk prices by up to ₹8 per litre, questioning how ordinary households and poor families would absorb the additional burden. He suggested the government could instead raise its existing ₹5 per litre subsidy to dairy farmers — framing it as an alternative under the state's seventh guarantee to farmers rather than passing the cost to consumers.
He further flagged a reportedly leaked Finance Department note that had warned the Karnataka government about fiscal constraints, advising expenditure restraint and caution over launching unbudgeted projects. The leakage has added to the political pressure on the Shivakumar-led administration.
Political Context
The remarks mark an escalation in the ongoing sparring between CM Shivakumar and Union Minister Kumaraswamy, whose JD(S) is allied with the BJP at the Centre. With Karnataka's next Assembly polls on the horizon, any sign of internal Congress discord — especially one involving alleged surveillance within the Cabinet — is likely to be amplified by the opposition. How Shivakumar responds to the public controversy will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
However, is the claim that internal Congress circles are pinning Siddaramaiah's political fall on a sting — if that narrative takes hold, it suggests fractures within the ruling coalition run deeper than routine factionalism. With Karnataka's next elections approaching and a Finance Department note already in circulation warning of fiscal strain, the Congress government faces a compounding credibility problem that is partly self-inflicted.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kumaraswamy allege about CM Shivakumar and sting operations?
Kumaraswamy alleged on 7 October 2026 that CM Shivakumar was himself behind alleged sting operations targeting Congress ministers, basing the charge on Shivakumar's own warning to Cabinet colleagues to be cautious about their movements. He argued that a Chief Minister who monitors his own ministers rather than trusting them is effectively conducting surveillance within his own government.
What did Shivakumar reportedly say at the Cabinet meeting?
Shivakumar reportedly told ministers at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting that inputs on alleged sting operations had been received, named certain ministers allegedly being tracked, and warned that four to five ministers could be targeted. The revelation is said to have left several Cabinet colleagues shocked.
How is the Siddaramaiah 'Rajanna issue' connected to the sting controversy?
Kumaraswamy claimed that some Congress ministers and leaders were themselves spreading reports that a sting operation had contributed to the high command's decision to remove Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister, referring to the 'Rajanna issue' involving Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna. Kumaraswamy denied that BJP or JD(S) had conducted the alleged operation.
Why did Kumaraswamy criticise the milk price hike?
Kumaraswamy questioned how common households and poor families would absorb an increase of up to ₹8 per litre in milk prices decided by the Karnataka Cabinet. He suggested the government could instead raise its existing ₹5 per litre subsidy to dairy farmers, framing it as a fairer use of state resources under its seventh guarantee scheme.
What is the leaked Finance Department note about?
A Finance Department note, reportedly leaked and cited by Kumaraswamy, warned the Karnataka government of fiscal constraints and advised against launching unbudgeted projects. The leak has added to political pressure on the Shivakumar administration at a time when it is already facing scrutiny over the sting allegations and internal party tensions.
