Updated On: 02 Sep 2026
BENGALURU: Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has stepped up his attack on RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of engineers, questioning how appointment orders could have been issued by the department without the minister being aware of the process.
Kumaraswamy clarified that he was not directly accusing Priyank Kharge of committing any irregularity, but questioned the minister’s responsibility as the head of the department when the alleged discrepancies took place.
“The KPSC conducts the examination, but the government issues the appointment orders. How could 24 appointments be made without the minister knowing about it? The appointment orders were issued by his own department,” Kumaraswamy said.
He also questioned why it took around one-and-a-half years for the alleged irregularities to come to light. Kumaraswamy said the government must explain what action was taken by officials responsible for the recruitment process.
Referring to the controversy surrounding the KPSC, he said the commission was created with the objective of ensuring fair recruitment to government services, but alleged that its functioning had changed over the years.
Kumaraswamy also raised questions about the conduct of examinations at resorts and sought clarity on the ongoing investigation into the KAS examination. He demanded that the CID conduct a genuine and impartial investigation rather than a superficial inquiry.
He questioned the cancellation of the 2011 KAS examination and sought details of the basis for the decision and the findings of the CID investigation.
Kumaraswamy also referred to the former KPSC chairman, saying that thousands of candidates had secured government jobs during his tenure without allegations of bribery. He said he had met the former chairman in jail only after he had ceased to hold the post.
On the alleged irregularities involving the veterinary officer recruitment, Kumaraswamy said the government appoints key officials, including the KPSC secretary and controller of examinations, and therefore cannot completely distance itself from the functioning of the commission.
He further questioned the role of officials in the RDPR recruitment process and said the government should establish responsibility if appointment orders were issued despite procedural lapses.
“I am not saying that irregularities have happened. The newspaper reports are saying that. I do not know whether Priyank Kharge was involved. But he must answer what responsibility he had as the minister of the department,” Kumaraswamy said.
He also questioned whether the minister’s resignation should be sought if an inquiry establishes departmental lapses, and demanded transparency in the investigation.
