Sting video row: Priyank Kharge attacks Kumaraswamy over Siddaramaiah targeting
Synopsis
Karnataka's sting video row has exploded into an open confrontation, with Home Minister Priyank Kharge directly challenging H.D. Kumaraswamy to explain why his IT cell members are evading questioning and whether a conspiracy was hatched during his US visit. The exchange — laced with historical grudges over Siddaramaiah's political career — reveals how deeply personal this battle has become.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on 29 October publicly challenged Union Minister H.D.
Kumaraswamy over the alleged sting video controversy in Bengaluru .
Kharge accused Kumaraswamy of shifting blame — targeting Siddaramaiah , Zameer Ahmad Khan , and the Kharge family at different times.
Kharge demanded to know why Kumaraswamy's IT cell members were not appearing for questioning in the sting video case.
He raised questions about a possible conspiracy during Kumaraswamy's visit to the United States for the Akka Sammelana .
Kumaraswamy counter-attacked, citing Congress's defeat in four Legislative Council constituencies and accusing Kharge of turning the police into a 'puppet.' Kumaraswamy told JD(S) workers: 'At most, it is just one more year.
Then we will come to power and settle the accounts.'
Karnataka Home and IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday, 29 October launched a sharp public offensive against Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, accusing him of making contradictory statements and using the ongoing sting video controversy to politically target former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Kharge family. The escalation marks a new flashpoint in the bitter rivalry between Karnataka's ruling Congress and the NDA-aligned JD(S).
Kharge's Direct Challenge to Kumaraswamy
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge invoked a Kannada proverb — 'a tongue without discipline and words without thought' — as the most fitting description of Kumaraswamy's conduct. He accused the Union Minister of lacking consistency, saying Kumaraswamy had no clarity about what he said yesterday, what he was saying today, or what he would say tomorrow.
'Taking Siddaramaiah's issue as a pretext, he points a finger at the Chief Minister on one occasion, at Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan on another, and at the Kharge family on yet another,' Kharge said. He further used a colourful metaphor, accusing Kumaraswamy of 'setting fire to someone else's house to cook one's own meal' — behaviour he described as 'house-breaking' or destructive conduct.
Questions Over the Alleged Sting Video
At the heart of the controversy is an alleged sting video whose origins and distribution have triggered a political storm in Karnataka. Kharge demanded to know why members of Kumaraswamy's IT cell were not appearing for questioning, and why Kumaraswamy could not state with confidence that his associates had no role in releasing the footage.
He also asked why Kumaraswamy had not condemned the uploading of the video, and raised questions about a visit Kumaraswamy made to the United States — reportedly in connection with an event called the Akka Sammelana — implying that a conspiracy may have been hatched during that trip. 'Will you speak about it, Kumaranna?' Kharge asked, directly challenging the Union Minister to respond.
Historical Grievances and Family Politics
Kharge alleged that Kumaraswamy had been the person who had 'most humiliated Siddaramaiah' and had also prevented him from becoming Chief Minister — a claim he described as clearly evident in Karnataka's political history. He further alleged that Kumaraswamy could not tolerate even the progress of his own brother's family, questioning how he could be expected to tolerate others. He concluded by advising Kumaraswamy to maintain dignity in speech, cultivate the habit of speaking the truth, and demonstrate greater political maturity.
Kumaraswamy Fires Back
The JD(S) leader had earlier told party workers not to fear police officers he claimed were harassing them under political pressure. 'At most, it is just one more year. Then we will come to power and settle the accounts,' Kumaraswamy reportedly said, while advising workers to respect officers who work within the law.
Kumaraswamy also directly attacked Priyank Kharge, asserting that the Congress's defeat in four Legislative Council constituencies was a direct rebuke of what he called Kharge's 'misrule and misuse of power,' and accused him of turning the police department into a 'puppet.' The exchange signals that the sting video row is far from over, with both sides showing no signs of backing down ahead of what Kumaraswamy framed as an electoral reckoning within a year.
Point of View
Which itself raises accountability concerns that mainstream coverage has underplayed.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sting video row in Karnataka?
The Karnataka sting video row involves an alleged video whose release has triggered a political controversy, with the ruling Congress accusing JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy's associates of being involved in its distribution. The episode has sharpened the rivalry between the Congress government and the NDA-aligned JD(S) in the state.
What did Priyank Kharge accuse Kumaraswamy of?
Kharge accused Kumaraswamy of making contradictory statements, shifting blame between Siddaramaiah, Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, and the Kharge family, and failing to condemn the video's upload. He also questioned why Kumaraswamy's IT cell members were not appearing for questioning, and raised the possibility of a conspiracy during Kumaraswamy's US visit.
What did Kumaraswamy say in response?
Kumaraswamy told JD(S) workers not to fear police he claimed were harassing them under political pressure, and said the party would 'settle the accounts' when it returns to power. He counter-attacked Priyank Kharge, citing Congress's defeat in four Legislative Council constituencies as proof of his alleged misrule and accused him of turning the police department into a political puppet.
What is the significance of the Akka Sammelana reference?
Priyank Kharge raised questions about whether a conspiracy was hatched during Kumaraswamy's visit to the United States, which was made in connection with an event called the Akka Sammelana. Kharge asked Kumaraswamy to publicly address what transpired during that trip, implying a possible link to the sting video's release.
How does this fit into Karnataka's broader political landscape?
The Congress-JD(S) rivalry in Karnataka carries deep historical baggage, including allegations that Kumaraswamy blocked Siddaramaiah's rise in earlier coalition arrangements. The sting video row has reignited those tensions, with both sides using it to consolidate their respective bases ahead of what Kumaraswamy described as an electoral reckoning within the next year.
