‘Surveillance Politics’: BJP Accuses Siddaramaiah Of Using State Intel To Snoop On DKS Faction – Delhi News Daily

Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 10:15 IST

Calling it the “complete politicisation of administration,” Ashoka said the state machinery exists to protect the people of Karnataka, “not to protect your chair.”

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. (Image: News18)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday lashed out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after reports emerged that he is allegedly using the state intelligence department to keep tabs on MLAs associated with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that the Congress government is now tracking dinner attendance of Shivakumar’s affiliated MLAs. He alleged that the government’s top priority was “counting MLAs and shadowing political rivals” instead of addressing issues such as law and order and rising communal tensions.

“So now State Intelligence has a new full-time job – tracking dinner attendance of DyCM @DKShivakumar’s faction?

Drug factories run unchecked, Communal tensions rise, Law & order weakens. But the top priority of this government? Counting MLAs and shadowing political rivals,” he said in a post on X.

Calling it the “complete politicisation of administration,” Ashoka said the state machinery exists to protect the people of Karnataka, “not to protect your chair.” He also questioned the silence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging hypocrisy over claims of misuse of institutions.

“Siddaramaiah avare, State machinery exists to protect the people of Karnataka, not to protect your chair. And where is @RahulGandhi now? The same Rahul Gandhi who lectures about “misuse” and “weaponisation” of institutions? Karnataka deserves governance. Not surveillance politics. CM Siddaramaiah must stop misusing State Intelligence for personal political survival,” he added.

His comments came after it was reported that the Chief Minister is allegedly usinf the state’s intelligence machinery to keep tabs on his deputy’s faction.

The controversy erupted after a dinner meeting hosted by the Shivakumar camp on the eve of Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna’s birthday. While the DKS faction claimed that around 40 MLAs attended the gathering, sources said 32 of the 69 invited legislators were present, The New Indian Express reported.

It was claimed that Siddaramaiah, apprehensive about Shivakumar’s camp projecting growing support within the party, had sought detailed updates on the movements of legislators beyond routine intelligence briefings.

Sources said the Shivakumar faction had indicated plans to meet the Congress high command in Delhi after the budget session. Some neutral MLAs reportedly expressed support for a leadership change but said any decision should safeguard the party’s image ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.

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