Sting-op fiasco: Siddaramaiah, Hariprasad’s stance leaves Shivakumar on the backfoot

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s meetings with the Congress high command, including Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi, along with KPCC chief BK Hariprasad’s statement that the focus should not be on HD Kumaraswamy but on identifying the real conspirator in the sting operation fiasco, and Kumaraswamy’s demand to find the person behind it, have shifted the pressure onto Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

After Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh recently spoke about the alleged link between Kumaraswamy’s Delhi residence, his associates, and the sting operation, it initially appeared that the focus had shifted to Kumaraswamy. However, the internal unease within the Congress, with two important leaders, Siddaramaiah and Hariprasad, expressing concerns over the investigation, has made the case more difficult for Shivakumar and state Home Minister Priyank Kharge.

Moreover, the alleged sting operation targeting Siddaramaiah has put the BJP in a “wait-and-watch” mode. While NDA ally Kumaraswamy has aggressively accused Congress leaders, indirectly pointing at Shivakumar, of plotting to remove Siddaramaiah from the chief minister’s post, the BJP has largely stayed away from directly endorsing these allegations. Though BJP leaders have given press statements in support of Kumaraswamy, they have not categorically linked the BJP to the sting operation or directly targeted Shivakumar over the case.

Also read: ‘Nobody can touch me,’ claims HD Kumaraswamy amid ‘sting op’ war with Congress

While Singh revealed that a mobile phone allegedly used in the operation was handed over at Kumaraswamy’s official Delhi residence, the BJP appears to be deliberately maintaining silence to avoid being dragged into a political controversy involving its ally. Therefore, the sting operation controversy has increasingly turned into a direct political tussle between Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar, with Siddaramaiah at the centre of the dispute.

Case moves to the ‘next level’

The alleged sting operation targeting Siddaramaiah has now moved beyond a police investigation and become a major political issue within the ruling Congress, with Siddaramaiah raising his concerns directly with the party’s central leadership in Delhi.

Siddaramaiah met Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Monday morning (November 2) along with his son, Yathindra. The meeting lasted around 30 minutes. Sources close to Siddaramaiah said he expressed dissatisfaction over the way the investigation into the sting operation was progressing and stressed that the alleged conspiracy behind the episode should be properly identified and investigated.

Venugopal is understood to have told Siddaramaiah that he had already discussed the issue with Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara. He also reportedly advised Siddaramaiah against publicly expressing dissatisfaction over the investigation.

Also read: Siddaramaiah 'sting operation’: Police say 'fabricated and deliberately constructed'

Later in the day, Siddaramaiah held a one-to-one meeting with Rahul Gandhi for around 40-45 minutes. According to sources, he explained in detail the developments surrounding the alleged sting operation and conveyed his concerns about what he sees as a possible conspiracy involving leaders within his own party (read Shivakumar).

After the meeting, however, Siddaramaiah publicly limited his remarks, saying he had discussed Karnataka's current political situation with Rahul Gandhi.

Hariprasad demands probe into ‘real mastermind’

Hariprasad also called for a deeper investigation into the alleged sting operation. Speaking in Delhi, he described the operation as an “ugly” act and said the real person behind it must be identified.

Responding to questions about an alleged link involving Kumaraswamy, Hariprasad said the focus should not merely be on whether a particular person was linked to the episode. Instead, he said the investigation should establish who the actual mastermind behind the operation was.

Also read: Stung by ‘sting’ row, Siddaramaiah rallies loyalists

His remarks are significant, as they echo the demand for a wider investigation into the conspiracy angle. He made this statement after meeting senior party leaders in Delhi. Both Siddaramaiah’s and Hariprasad’s statements have indicated that all is not well within the Karnataka Congress and have hinted at their displeasure with Shivakumar as well as with the CCB investigation.

Their position clearly suggests that they are not primarily concerned about Kumaraswamy’s “involvement”, despite Singh’s statement that the videos were handed over at Kumaraswamy’s Delhi residence.

Kumaraswamy attacks police investigation

Kumaraswamy has continued to attack the state government over the investigation. He alleged that a third person was present along with Kripa Alva during the alleged sting operation and questioned why that person had not been identified.

He also alleged that the state government was using the police machinery to shield those behind the alleged conspiracy. Kumaraswamy questioned how the police commissioner could make public statements while the investigation was still underway and alleged political pressure behind the probe.

He further questioned the gap between the incident said to have occurred in 2011 and the recording of the video in 2023. He also questioned the alleged roles of Kripa Alva, a private television channel head, and another individual in the creation of the video.

Also read: Siddaramaiah sting case: Probe trail reaches Kumaraswamy’s Delhi home; is trouble brewing?

He also alleged that the police investigation aimed to give Siddaramaiah a clean chit and protect the government.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Priyank Kharge has indirectly pointed at Kumaraswamy, accusing him of attempting to defame the Congress government. In a post on X, Kharge alleged that a Union minister was trying to pressure the Centre to use investigative agencies against his Cabinet colleagues and him, using the KPSC investigation as political cover. He also alleged attempts to pressure accused persons into implicating Congress leaders.

The political debate is now shifting from the video itself to questions of who planned, facilitated, and circulated it, and whether political actors were involved.