A video allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna, a BJP-JDS coalition candidate, in a compromising position has been released on USB drives in Karnataka. This new method of exposing scandals comes at a crucial time during the high-stakes Lok Sabha elections in the state. The JDS has already concluded elections for three contested seats in Karnataka. However, with 14 out of the 28 seats still up for grabs for the BJP, the emerging scandal could pose significant challenges.
The controversy has sparked a heated exchange between the Congress and the BJP. The state's ruling party accuses the BJP of protecting Revanna, while the BJP retorts that the Congress is engaging in dirty politics.
This incident marks the first time a sex scandal in the state has been so publicly and widely exposed without the use of social media. USB drives were distributed at bus stops, parks, village fairs, and homes, a strategy that has drawn criticism from party workers across all factions. The timing of this method is critical, as it happened just five days before the voting in Hassan - one of the 14 seats that went to polls in the first phase in Karnataka and the second phase nationally.
Senior journalist Satish Kumar has observed the increasing use of technology for political innovation in India. However, he believes that what happened in this particular case was a clever political strategy employed by Prajwal Revanna to bypass a ban imposed in June 2023. The ban had prohibited media houses from broadcasting the video clips in question. The political repercussions of this scandal are uncertain, but it could have significant implications for both JDS and BJP. BJP leaders have already acknowledged it as an "embarrassing situation." Despite the controversy, there is a possibility that the BJP-JDS coalition could successfully navigate through this storm. Political analysts believe that the impact of this scandal will largely depend on how Congress leverages it in its campaign for the remaining 14 seats.
The Karnataka government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has expressed concern about the distribution of "obscene videos" in Hassan district and has noted the accompanying incidents of sexual violence against women.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) assigned to the case is led by ADGP BK Singh is renowned for his prior work on high-profile murder cases of journalist Gauri Lankesh and activist MM Kalburgi. This underscores the seriousness of the matter as it unfolds in Hassan district. This region is profoundly influential for the family of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and a pivotal area for the Vokkaliga community in southern Karnataka.
The backdrop of this scandal has historical roots in local politics. In the 2019 elections, the senior Gowda (HD Deve Gowda) vacated the Hassan seat for his grandson, Prajwal Revanna, instead of contesting from Tumkur. This move allowed his other grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, to run from Mandya. Both efforts were unsuccessful, marking a significant political setback for the family.
The controversy surrounding the USB drives first surfaced when Prajwal Revanna's election agent complained to the Hassan police on April 21. He alleged that doctored obscene videos of Revanna were being strategically distributed in public spaces for political sabotage. This complaint was named Naveen Gowda, among others involved in this dissemination.
Subsequently, on April 28, further accusations emerged against the Deve Gowda family. A 47-year-old woman, employed as a cook in HD Revanna's household, registered a complaint at the Holenarsipur police station, claiming sexual harassment by both HD Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna. This claim adds a complex layer to the ongoing political saga in Karnataka, illuminating the disturbing nexus of power, politics, and personal misconduct.
The allegations detail a troubling environment within the Revanna household. The woman claims she is related to H.D. Revanna's wife and initially joined the household to assist during the wedding of Revanna's eldest son, Suraj. She later became a cook there from 2019 to 2022. During her tenure, she alleges experiencing and observing sexual misconduct, including inappropriate touches by Revanna in the absence of his wife and obscene video calls from Prajwal to her daughter. These incidents led to their resignation from the household.
In reaction to these serious allegations, HD Revanna stated his intention to cooperate fully with the investigation. An FIR has been filed, addressing incidents dating back four to five years.
HD Kumaraswamy expressed his disappointment about media reports that focused on Deve Gowda and emphasised that those responsible should face the full extent of the law. This situation could lead to a legal battle and pose considerable risks to the reputations of those involved, particularly given the political stakes and the public's expectation for accountability.
Last June, Revanna took a strategic move and obtained a court injunction to prevent the controversial videos from spreading. Later in December, BJP's local leader Devaraje Gowda urged the Karnataka BJP President BY Vijendra to exclude Prajwal Revanna and his family from the coalition's candidate nominations. Despite these concerns, the BJP leadership decided the coalition partners would ultimately decide on candidate selection once the seat-sharing agreement was finalised.
State BJP representatives clarified that they had no authority to dictate who their coalition partners should nominate as candidates; that decision was left to the party.
Political analyst Jeevan Ranthod argues that the scandal likely did not influence the initial voting phase in Karnataka, as the distribution of the USB drives was limited to Hassan City. However, it could present a moral challenge to the BJP if Congress seeks to mobilise women voters in the remaining 14 seats.
Ranthod further says that this scandal may give the BJP an advantage over the JDS in future dealings, suggesting that the BJP will likely swallow the JDS. While JDS may have anticipated this, it will want to preserve its present to secure its future.
Following the scandal, various political figures have expressed their strong views. Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress party for their inaction, highlighting the governance responsibilities of the state.
"As this is a law and order issue of the state, we do not have to take action. It is the state government's responsibility to take action on it... We support the investigation and our partner JDS has also announced that they will take action against it," Shah stated, emphasising the procedural duties of the state government.
On the other hand, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi connected the issue to the Prime Minister and the national BJP leadership. She questioned the implications of Prajwal Revanna's actions, who was seen with PM Modi during campaigns.
"A major incident has occurred in Karnataka, where a person who shared the stage with PM Modi and for whom he asked for votes, Prajwal Revanna, sexually assaulted thousands of women. I want to know what PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have to say about this," she challenged.
The Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra rejected the accusations made by the Congress, saying that they are indulging in "dirty politics" by targeting both the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He insisted that his party had no connection with the controversy. Adding to the accusations, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge pointed fingers at the BJP, suggesting a conspiracy to help the Hassan MP evade legal consequences. "The BJP ensured that he fled the country. Today, if he has left the country as the rumors are being floated, then how did he leave the country? Who facilitated it? I am directly blaming the BJP on this front," Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru, intensifying the allegations of political conspiracy.
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