BENGALURU: The controversy over recruitment to 384 gazetted probationer posts has snowballed into a major political storm in Karnataka, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the ruling Indian National Congress government of presiding over a “systemic scam” in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).
The BJP has alleged that the irregularities in the recruitment process are not isolated incidents but point towards a deeper manipulation under the Congress regime, raising serious questions about transparency and fairness in one of the state’s most prestigious recruitment exams.
The row erupted after KPSC released the list of candidates shortlisted for interviews, which immediately triggered suspicion among aspirants. Several candidates from the same examination centre, bearing consecutive serial numbers, were shortlisted—an anomaly that opposition leaders say cannot be dismissed as a coincidence. Adding to the controversy were allegations that candidates with identical surnames and initials, suspected to be from the same families, had made it to the list.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging a cover-up. “This is not just an irregularity, it smells like a well-organised scam. The government is trying to shield those involved. An SIT probe is the only way to uncover the truth,” he said, demanding immediate intervention.
Senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar echoed similar concerns, calling for a complete re-examination. “Thousands of honest aspirants are being cheated. If everything is fair, why is the government afraid of a re-exam? Let merit prevail,” he said. He also questioned the academic credentials of the shortlisted candidates, urging authorities to make the data public.
The BJP has also zeroed in on the functioning of KPSC, particularly targeting Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar. Alleging that the “needle of suspicion” points towards him, Suresh Kumar demanded his immediate transfer and called for strict accountability. “He continues in the post despite multiple -level changes. This raises serious doubts about internal checks and balances,” he said, even suggesting impeachment proceedings against KPSC members.
The opposition further alleged that such irregularities could not have occurred without political backing, directly accusing the Congress government of compromising the integrity of the recruitment system. BJP leaders claimed that repeated controversies surrounding recruitment exams under the current regime have eroded public trust.
However, the government has strongly denied all allegations. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told the Assembly that no evidence of malpractice has been found so far. “Based on CCTV verification and internal checks, there is nothing to suggest fraud at this stage,” he maintained.
Responding to claims about candidates with similar names, Gowda clarified that they belonged to different districts and were not related. He also cautioned against jumping to conclusions based on “mere suspicion involving a handful of candidates.”
The minister opposed the demand for a re-examination, stating that it would unfairly impact over 5,500 candidates who had appeared for the mains. “A re-exam would delay the process by at least two years and create further complications, including demands for age relaxation,” he said.
Despite resisting calls for an SIT, the government assured that further verification would be undertaken and promised strict action if any wrongdoing is established. “If there is concrete proof, the entire exam will be annulled,” Gowda added.
