Karnataka Home Minister rejects resignation demand over KPSC recruitment irregularities row

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has rejected Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's demand for his resignation over alleged lapses in handling recruitment irregularities at the Karnataka Public Service Commission.

Kumaraswamy on Friday accused the State government of failing to act against IAS officer Gyanendra Gangwar, who served as KPSC Controller of Examinations when alleged irregularities occurred in the recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineers (Grade-I). The Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel claimed the Congress government had allowed the senior bureaucrat to "run away".

Sharp counterattack from Kharge

In his response, Kharge suggested the JD(S) leader may have been "tasked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah" to target him. "The name Priyank Kharge had, until now, been providing employment to BJP leaders and giving them material to stay in the news. Now, even the JD(S) leaders are finding the name Priyank appealing," the Home Minister said.

Kharge turned the tables by recalling irregularities in KPSC recruitments during Kumaraswamy's earlier tenure as Chief Minister in a coalition government, including the recruitment of KAS officers in 1998.

War of words escalates

"Mr. Kumaraswamy, your attempts to smear me will not succeed. I will put the facts on record in response to all your allegations," Kharge said.

The exchange underscores deepening tensions between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance ahead of scrutiny into the KPSC recruitment process, with Gangwar's role as Controller of Examinations during the alleged irregularities now at the centre of political crossfire.

Source: The Hindu