Bengaluru erupted in political heat on Tuesday as Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. At the center of the storm is the escalating phone tapping controversy that’s gripped the state, with Kumaraswamy accusing the CM of sidelining governance for petty political vendettas.
The allegations first surfaced around Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, whose phones were reportedly tapped amid his ambitions to claim the top post. Siddaramaiah has flatly denied any involvement, calling the claims baseless. But Kumaraswamy isn’t buying it. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he posted sharply: ‘The CM seems more interested in counter-attacks than running the state.’
Drawing from media reports on the tapping scandal, Kumaraswamy clarified he was merely responding to public concerns, not fabricating charges. He lambasted the Congress-led government for squandering its 140-seat mandate on internal squabbles instead of public welfare. ‘This is all about the chair fight within Congress,’ he asserted, a sentiment echoed by opposition voices and sections of the media.
Kumaraswamy urged the government to address issues head-on rather than deflect. Defending his own tenure as CM, he noted his two brief stints without a clear majority, insisting he never resorted to illegal surveillance to cling to power.
He didn’t hold back on Congress’s track record, invoking the Emergency era as proof of the party’s disdain for democratic norms. ‘Democracy isn’t factionalism among MLAs, public spats between CM and Deputy CM, or bullying media with ads,’ he declared.
Accusing the regime of divisive caste and religion-based politics, Kumaraswamy criticized Siddaramaiah for dragging PM Narendra Modi into the fray. He highlighted alleged misuse of power against opponents, dubbing a certain probe team the ‘Siddaramaiah Investigation Team (SIT)’ for its selective targeting.
In a personal dig, Kumaraswamy reminded the CM of his past political affiliations before joining Congress, suggesting history would judge his legacy. As the row intensifies, Karnataka’s political landscape looks increasingly volatile, with governance taking a backseat to power plays.