Internal politics, gold smuggling scandal, and honey-trap intrigue
Karnataka has recently been the epicenter of multiple controversies, ranging from internal political strife to serious criminal investigations. The ongoing power struggle within the ruling Congress, the gold smuggling scandal involving a film actress and allegations against cabinet ministers, and a shocking honey-trap case involving a senior government minister have all dominated headlines.
The gold smuggling issue has taken a serious turn with the arrest of actress Ranya Rao and her associate, Tarun Raju. Authorities suspect more arrests are imminent, and a senior IPS officer, Rao’s stepfather, has been sent on compulsory leave. Investigations have been handed over to central agencies, revealing the Dubai-Bengaluru route as a significant hub for illegal gold trade.
Politically, the tension between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar (DKS) has been escalating ever since the Congress government took charge in mid-2023. The power-sharing agreement made during their swearing-in envisioned Siddaramaiah serving for two-and-a-half years, with DKS taking over thereafter. However, the Congress high command has yet to clarify its stance, leading to ongoing infighting. Despite this, both leaders have maintained a cordial public image.
Adding to the drama, K N Rajanna, the 73-year-old minister for cooperation, revealed in the state assembly that an attempt had been made to honey-trap him and his son, Rajendra. While this revelation shocked many, the BJP failed to capitalize on it during the initial stages of the assembly session. However, the opposition did raise the issue later, causing considerable embarrassment to the Congress. Rajanna claimed that honey-trap incidents had been occurring for months and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Karnataka has seen its fair share of honey-trap scandals, with one involving former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi in 2021, leading to his resignation. This latest case has prompted Home Minister G Parameshwara to assure an investigation, although questions have been raised about the state intelligence’s failure to detect such activities sooner.
On the political front, the BJP is also grappling with internal divisions. Senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has been vocal in his criticism of former CM B S Yediyurappa and his son, now BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra. This internal discord, coupled with scandals like the Prajwal Revanna sleaze videos and past pornographic video incidents, has tarnished Karnataka’s once progressive image.
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