In a dramatic turn of events, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday accused JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy of orchestrating a scandal involving explicit videos allegedly linked to Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna.
Shivakumar labeled Kumaraswamy as the “king of blackmailing” and the mastermind behind the scandal, further asserting that Kumaraswamy is the “lead, director, and producer of the story.”
The controversy deepened as Kumaraswamy called for Shivakumar’s dismissal from the Cabinet, branding him a “key conspirator” in the dissemination of the alleged sex videos implicating Prajwal, who is Kumaraswamy’s nephew.
Prajwal, a 33-year-old MP, faces serious allegations of sexual abuse, triggering a political firestorm between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JDS coalition.
While the Congress government has initiated a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, the BJP and JD(S) alliance partners have vehemently demanded a transfer of the case to the CBI, intensifying the political deadlock.
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s accusations, Shivakumar sarcastically offered his resignation, implying a challenge to Kumaraswamy’s authority in the Vokkaliga community leadership.
He condemned Kumaraswamy’s alleged tactics of political elimination and blackmail, urging for a discussion on the matter in the Assembly.
The exchange of allegations reached a peak when Kumaraswamy claimed that 25,000 pen drives containing videos of women being sexually abused, purportedly involving Prajwal, were circulated before the elections.
He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar of colluding in a conspiracy. However, Shivakumar dismissed these claims, emphasising that the Revanna family’s issues should not be linked to Kumaraswamy or his father, HD Deve Gowda.
In response to questions regarding Congress party’s involvement, Shivakumar accused Kumaraswamy of orchestrating the entire scandal with the support of the BJP. He urged for a thorough investigation into the matter and called for empathy towards the victims’ families.
Meanwhile, JDS staged a protest against Shivakumar, illustrating the deep-seated animosity between the parties.
Shivakumar, unfazed by the protests, asserted that the opposition’s fixation on him is essential for their political relevance, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing feud.
As the political turmoil escalates, Karnataka braces for further confrontations and revelations, setting the stage for a tumultuous battle of narratives and power dynamics in the state.
