{
  "id": 16407521,
  "title": "Amid sting video row, why Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah rift returns to haunt Congress",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/amid-sting-video-row-why-shivakumar-siddaramaiah-rift-returns-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T01:30:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-sting-video-row-why-shivakumar-siddaramaiah-rift-returns-to-haunt-congress-10935544/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Four months after D K Shivakumar replaced Siddaramaiah as Karnataka's Chief Minister, the Congress party is grappling with a controversy over a purported sting operation against the ex-CM. Both Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra, a minister in Shivakumar's cabinet, have vehemently denied the \"fake sting video\" circulating online. They accused Power TV MD Rakesh Shetty, a close ally of Shivakumar, of involvement in the filming, which emerged last month on social media and local TV channels. Shetty has been granted interim bail, while Yathindra alleged some Congress insiders were involved, citing a woman worker who sought the party ticket to contest from Puttur in the 2023 Assembly polls.\n\nThe BJP and its ally JD(S) have exploited the controversy to fuel discontent within the Congress, recalling Shivakumar's past link to a sex sting operation that led to the downfall of BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi. Kumaraswamy, a JD(S) leader, accused Shivakumar of being the \"king of stings\" in Karnataka, warning his cabinet colleagues about possible sting operations to discredit the Congress government. Shivakumar, in turn, claimed he too was targeted by a businessman who wore Meta glasses for a meeting with him.\n\nKumaraswamy is using the sting issue to widen rifts between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, urging the latter to speak out against the allegations and prevent character assassination through rumors. Siddaramaiah, however, remains confident in the investigation process, pleading for the truth to emerge and asking for a fair probe.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Congress party faces controversy over alleged fake sting video against ex-CM D K Shivakumar",
    "Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra deny involvement in the purported sting operation",
    "BJP and JD(S) exploit the controversy to fuel discontent within Congress"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The controversy over a purported sting operation weaponizes internal leadership friction, allowing political rivals to exploit existing fissures between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to destabilize the ruling government.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}