KPSC ‘scam’: Priyank Kharge offers to quit politics despite overwhelming evidence against him

Priyank Kharge | Photo credit: File photo

HD Kumaraswamy | Photo credit: File photo

KPSC’s crackdown on an alleged recruitment scam involving the appointment of assistant executive engineers in the rural drinking water supply scheme on Monday led to Home Minister Priyank Kharge offering to resign if “even a shred of evidence” of his involvement is provided. Mr Kharge called on Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy to retire from politics if the involvement of BJP or JD(S) was found in the alleged scam. He suspected that the initiation of the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate was to protect BJP figures.

Reacting to the allegations leveled by Mr Kumaraswamy, Mr Kharge told reporters: “If my involvement is proved, I am ready to give up politics completely. Even my family will not come (into politics).”

Mr. Kumaraswamy alleged that Mr. Kharge was complicit in the alleged recruitment scam involving the appointment of AEEs by the RDPR ministry when Mr. Kharge headed it during the Siddaramaiah government.

Launching a counter attack on Mr. Kumaraswamy, he said, “If your words carry weight, provide the documents. We will ensure a transparent investigation as there are already two FIRs. We will not spare anyone. It is very unbecoming of your character to make allegations without documents.”

Questioning the “sanity of the JD(S), Mr. Kharge said, “The allegation is about rewriting the answers in the OMR sheets. Who is in charge of the OMR sheet? KPSC is responsible for that. Every decision was taken by KPSC. KPSC set up a three-member committee to probe the irregularities and later a five-member committee was set up. conditional appointment, did not share the inquiry’s findings.The report blames the inquiry wing, not the government.

He further asked Mr. Kumaraswamy why he was silent on the now suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar. “Why didn’t he talk about (former chief minister) BS Yediyurappa appointing him (Mr Sahukar). All the corrupt KPSC members were nominated either by Mr Yediyurappa or BJP.”

Meanwhile, Mr Kumaraswamy continued to target Mr Kharge, telling reporters in Delhi on Monday that Mr Kharge could not distance himself from the AEE recruitment allegations. “Allegations were made that candidates were kept in resorts, question papers were provided and OMR sheets were tampered with. Insisting that he had provided the documents, he further stated that he did not want Mr. Kharge’s retirement from politics, but a transparent investigation.

Published – 31 Aug 2026 21:35 IST