Kumaraswamy demands Priyank Kharge’s resignation over alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 29, 2026: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy demanded the resignation of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging that he failed to prevent irregularities in the recruitment of 24 Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) through the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) when he held the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj portfolio.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy demanded a high-level investigation into the alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitments. He claimed that concerns over manipulation of OMR sheets, destruction of CCTV footage and procedural violations in the AEE recruitment process had been raised within the commission even before the final selection, but the appointments were allowed to proceed.

"OMR sheets were tampered with and irregularities were established during scrutiny as well as in an inquiry conducted by a KPSC sub-committee," Kumaraswamy said while releasing documents to support his allegations.

"Despite the inquiry, Priyank Kharge failed to stop the recruitment. He must resign and a CBI probe must be ordered," he demanded.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the OMR sheets had been tampered with using carbon paper and that CCTV footage related to the examination had been destroyed.

He further claimed that the KPSC sub-committee had found irregularities in the selection of all 24 candidates and that notices had been issued to them after discrepancies were detected in their OMR sheets. However, appointment orders were subsequently issued in haste, he alleged.

Kumaraswamy also accused Priyank Kharge of shielding IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who served as the examination controller during the AEE recruitment. "The Home Minister’s statement changed every day when media friends raised questions about the IAS officer," he said.

He further alleged that the High Court had observed that the matter should be investigated by the CBI, but the state government had failed to register an FIR despite the alleged irregularities.

Kumaraswamy appealed to unemployed youth and students across Karnataka to protest against the alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitments.