States » SouthPosted at: Oct 8 2026 12:02PM


Sting operation warning sets off fresh political war in Karnataka

Bengaluru, Oct 8 (UNI) A warning by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to his Cabinet colleagues about alleged sting operations targeting ministers has opened a fresh front in Karnataka politics, with the Opposition turning the Chief Minister’s own caution into a political weapon and demanding answers on who is behind the alleged operations.
The issue came to the fore after Shivakumar reportedly told ministers at a recent Cabinet meeting that intelligence inputs suggested that two teams were conducting sting operations against ministers and advised them to remain extremely cautious in their interactions.
The Chief Minister’s warning triggered an immediate political storm, with BJP and JD(S) leaders questioning why the government was apprehensive about sting operations and demanding that the agencies allegedly conducting them be identified.
The controversy intensified after union Minister HD Kumaraswamy directly targeted Shivakumar, alleging that a sting operation had earlier been used to create circumstances that led to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation.
Kumaraswamy questioned the basis of the Chief Minister’s warning and challenged the government to reveal what information it had received from the Intelligence Department. He also alleged that the Congress had itself used such methods in the past.
The BJP too seized on the issue. State BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa said the history of sting operations was well known and questioned why the Chief Minister was warning ministers instead of taking action against those allegedly carrying out the operations.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka attacked Shivakumar with the political jibe that the warning reflected the mindset of a person who was worried about being exposed.
BJP MLC CT Ravi also joined the attack, questioning whether the Chief Minister was effectively teaching ministers how to avoid being caught rather than advising them to maintain transparency and probity in public life.
The Congress, however, hit back, accusing the Opposition of trying to politicise intelligence inputs. Minister HC Balakrishna came to Shivakumar’s defence and turned the spotlight on Kumaraswamy, alleging that the JD(S) leader had himself been associated with sting operations and secret recordings in the past.
Kumaraswamy responded by questioning why the government had not acted if it possessed concrete information about an ongoing sting operation. He challenged the ruling party to produce evidence instead of making allegations.
The controversy has also revived references to former Minister KN Rajanna’s earlier statements in the Legislative Assembly about alleged sting operations within political circles. Though that controversy had subsequently faded, the Chief Minister’s latest warning has brought the issue back into the centre of Karnataka’s political discourse.
What began as a purported security and intelligence warning inside the Cabinet has thus rapidly transformed into a political battle involving allegations of surveillance, blackmail and the use of secretly recorded material for political advantage.
The Opposition is now pressing the government on three key questions — who is conducting the alleged sting operations, whom they are targeting and what action the Intelligence Department has taken.
For Shivakumar, the controversy comes at a politically sensitive juncture, with the Congress government already facing sustained attacks from the Opposition on several fronts. His warning was intended to put ministers on guard, but it has instead handed the BJP and JD(S) another line of attack against the government.
With both sides trading accusations and invoking past episodes of alleged sting operations, the issue threatens to turn into another prolonged political slugfest in the State.
The sting operation controversy, far from remaining a Cabinet-room warning, has now become the latest battlefield between the Congress government and the Opposition.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Sting operation warning sets off fresh political war in Karnataka
More News

Wind power capacity reaches 59 20 GW till Sep 30, India on track to cross 100 GW mark by 2030 : Pralhad Joshi

08 Oct 2026 | 2:42 PM

Chennai, Oct 8 (UNI) India Wind power installed capacity has reached 59.20 GW till September 30 this year and the country was well
on track to cross 100 GW capacity mark by 2030, union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Education and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday.

see more..

Telangana: Cong will continue fight to protect voting rights: Ponnam Prabhakar

08 Oct 2026 | 2:35 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 8 (UNI) Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Thursday said the Congress would continue its nationwide struggle to protect voters’ rights and oppose what it alleged were irregularities in the electoral rolls.

see more..

Tirumala: Devotee from Hyderabad donates Gold Coral Necklaces worth Rs 25 lakh to lord Venkateswara

08 Oct 2026 | 1:23 PM

Tirumala, Oct 8 (UNI) A devotee from Hyderabad donated two gold coral necklaces, known as Bangaru Pagadala Haralu, valued at approximately Rs 25 lakh to Sri Venkateswara Swamy here on Thursday.

see more..

Congress holds ‘Chalo Lok Bhavan’ protest in Hyderabad

08 Oct 2026 | 1:18 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 8 (UNI) Tension prevailed in Hyderabad on Thursday as Congress leaders and activists staged a ‘Chalo Lok Bhavan’ protest against what they alleged were irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

see more..

Bypolls : All set for counting of votes in 2 TN seats, one in Pondy tomorrow

08 Oct 2026 | 1:03 PM

Chennai, Oct 8 (UNI) With voting in the bypoll for the Reserved seats of Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly seats and for the lone Thattanchavady seat in union Territory of Puducherry concluding on Tuesday evening, the focus now shifts to EVMS as the election authorities have made all arrangements for counting of votes in the three seats tomorrow.

see more..