Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar travelled to Delhi on Thursday, 22 October 2026, sparking widespread speculation within the ruling Indian National Congress and political circles across the state, as the controversy over an alleged sting operation targeting former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah continues to escalate. The timing of the visit has drawn pointed questions about whether the sting row will figure prominently in Shivakumar's discussions with the party's national leadership.

Official Agenda in Delhi

On the official calendar, Shivakumar is scheduled to meet Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The Chief Minister's return to Bengaluru is confirmed for 10.25 pm on Thursday.

The meetings are expected to cover key state issues including the Mekedatu project, the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats, and the long-running Mahadayi river water dispute — all matters of significant consequence for Karnataka's agriculture and ecology.

The Sting Operation Controversy

However, it is the political subtext that has generated the most attention. Congress insiders told reporters that Shivakumar was likely to hold informal meetings with the party's central leadership to discuss the fallout from the alleged sting operation and its potential damage to the Congress party's image in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah is reportedly upset over the circulation of video material allegedly linked to him. He has obtained a court injunction restraining media organisations from broadcasting or publishing the video content, and has also filed a police complaint seeking action against those responsible for its circulation.

Kumaraswamy Targets Shivakumar

The controversy has drawn in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition partner and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, who has alleged that Shivakumar himself was behind the release of the video linked to Siddaramaiah. The allegation has sharply heightened tensions between Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).

Kumaraswamy also objected to police action taken against JD(S) workers in connection with Siddaramaiah's complaint, staging a protest at the Bengaluru Police Commissioner's Office and questioning the conduct of the state police. He directed sharp public statements at Shivakumar and Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, challenging them to take action against him and warning of consequences.

Notably, Kumaraswamy had announced an emergency press conference at the JD(S) headquarters on Thursday but postponed it, citing ministerial commitments in Delhi.

Broader Political Fallout

This comes amid an already fragile political environment in Karnataka, where the Congress government has faced recurring challenges from both internal dissent and opposition pressure. The intra-party dimension — with two dominant Congress leaders at the centre of the controversy — adds a layer of complexity that the party's central leadership will be keen to manage before it widens further.

With Shivakumar's return to Bengaluru slated for Thursday night, the party's next steps on managing the sting operation row are expected to become clearer in the coming days.