Mysuru, September 29, 2026: Karnataka's political temperature rose on Tuesday after Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy launched a sharp attack on Home Minister Priyank Kharge, accusing him of failing to address law-and-order concerns and demanding his resignation.
Speaking in Mysuru, Narayanaswamy levelled a series of allegations against the Home Minister and the Congress-led state government, particularly over issues concerning Dalit communities in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
His remarks come amid an increasingly heated political exchange between the Congress and BJP in Karnataka, with corruption, social justice, the RSS and electoral processes becoming major points of confrontation.
Narayanaswamy Questions Government's Response to Dalit Atrocities
One of Narayanaswamy's primary criticisms focused on reported atrocities against Dalits in parts of Kalyana Karnataka.
He alleged that several serious incidents had taken place but claimed the Home Minister had not responded adequately to the situation. Questioning the government's priorities, Narayanaswamy argued that the Home Department should be more focused on protecting vulnerable communities and maintaining law and order.
He also claimed that multiple atrocity cases had been registered in areas associated with the Home Minister and used the issue to question the effectiveness of the state administration.
These statements are allegations made by the opposition leader, and the TV9 Kannada report did not carry a detailed response from Kharge to the accusations.
Corruption Allegations Against Congress Government
Narayanaswamy also accused the Congress government of widespread corruption across departments.
He alleged that the government was misusing public resources and specifically raised questions over funds intended for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe welfare programmes.
According to him, money allocated through schemes such as the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan should be protected and used only for the welfare and development of the communities for which it was intended.
The opposition leader further claimed that concerns over corruption and governance were growing as political competition intensified in the state.
No evidence establishing the broader corruption allegations was presented in the report, and the claims remain part of the ongoing political dispute between the government and the opposition.
RSS Becomes Another Flashpoint
Narayanaswamy also criticised Priyank Kharge over his recent comments regarding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Kharge has recently questioned the RSS over issues including its legal status, finances, organisational structure and accountability, bringing the organisation back into the centre of Karnataka's political debate.
Narayanaswamy argued that the Home Minister was spending too much time targeting the RSS instead of discussing law-and-order challenges in the state.
He defended the organisation and challenged the government's criticism of it, suggesting that the Congress should concentrate more on administration and the welfare of marginalised communities.
The exchange reflects the wider ideological confrontation between the Congress and BJP over the role and activities of the RSS.
Opposition Leader Comments on Electoral Roll Revision
The controversy did not end with corruption and the RSS.
Narayanaswamy also commented on the debate surrounding electoral roll revision and the Special Intensive Revision process.
He maintained that revision of electoral rolls is an exercise carried out by the Election Commission and should not be treated purely as an issue between the BJP and Congress.
According to him, similar voter-list revision exercises had also taken place during earlier governments.
He rejected allegations of organised vote theft and accused the Congress of raising such concerns selectively in places where it faces electoral challenges.
Political Battle Likely to Continue
The latest statements indicate that Karnataka's political confrontation is expanding beyond a single issue.
The opposition is attempting to put the government under pressure over corruption allegations, Dalit welfare, law and order and the handling of public funds. At the same time, the Congress and Priyank Kharge have continued to raise questions surrounding the RSS and political accountability.
With both sides intensifying their attacks, the debate is likely to remain prominent in the coming days.
Narayanaswamy, who has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council since July 2024, continues to be one of the BJP's prominent voices against the Congress government. His latest remarks in Mysuru further underline the increasingly confrontational political atmosphere in the state.
For readers, however, it is important to distinguish between political allegations and independently established findings. The corruption and governance accusations reported here were made by Narayanaswamy, and should be understood in that context unless supported by official investigations or verified evidence.