Kumaraswamy Steps Up Offensive Against Congress, Seeks Larger Role in Karnataka Opposition Politics

Bengaluru, Sept 12: Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy is increasingly asserting himself in Karnataka’s Opposition politics, mounting a sustained offensive against the ruling Congress and positioning himself as a key challenger ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.

Despite the BJP having a stronger numerical presence in the Karnataka Assembly, Kumaraswamy has in recent months taken the lead on several issues targeting the Congress government. His interventions, including allegations surrounding the HMT land controversy, the NICE project and alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment, have repeatedly forced the ruling party to respond.

Kumaraswamy’s direct confrontation with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has further intensified the political contest, particularly over Bengaluru and the Old Mysuru region, traditionally regarded as the JD(S)’s stronghold.

Shivakumar has been working to expand the Congress footprint in the Old Mysuru belt by strengthening the party’s local organisation and leadership. Kumaraswamy, meanwhile, has stepped up efforts to retain the JD(S)’s traditional political space and counter the Congress expansion.

His repeated statements about returning to active Karnataka politics have also fuelled speculation about his role in the 2028 electoral battle. Kumaraswamy has said he would return to State politics at the appropriate time and has indicated that he could contest from any constituency in Karnataka.

Kumaraswamy’s position within the NDA has strengthened his political profile. After winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in 2024, he joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet, giving him a prominent role at the Centre while retaining his regional political base in Karnataka.

Political observers see Kumaraswamy’s aggressive campaign as an attempt not only to keep the Congress government on the defensive but also to establish the JD(S) as an indispensable component of the BJP-led NDA’s electoral strategy in Karnataka.

His sustained attacks have enabled the JD(S) to occupy political space traditionally dominated by the BJP as the principal Opposition force, despite the BJP remaining numerically stronger in the Assembly.

However, Kumaraswamy’s growing political assertiveness could also create fresh challenges within the BJP-JD(S) alliance, particularly over the distribution of political space and leadership ahead of the 2028 elections.

For now, Kumaraswamy appears determined to ensure that the political battle against the Congress in Karnataka is not led by the BJP alone. At the same time, he is seeking to strengthen his own claim for a larger role in the State’s politics.

The emerging political contest between Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar could consequently become one of the defining battles in Karnataka as the State moves towards the 2028 Assembly elections.