BENGALURU: In the battle for political dominance, a weapon as old as politics itself has resurfaced—honeytraps. Sex scandals, strategically engineered and meticulously timed, have become a favoured tool to eliminate rivals, turning personal weaknesses into public disgrace.
While such scandals are not new to Indian politics, they have become bitter and personal. These are no longer isolated acts of personal indiscretion but orchestrated operations where technology, surveillance, and vendettas converge to destroy reputations and shift power.
BJP legislator Ramesh Jarkiholi was among the first high-profile casualties in recent years, when he was forced to quit his ministerial post following a leaked sex tape. More recently, Prajwal Revanna and Suraj Revanna, members of the family of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, have faced similar ignominy.
Now, cooperation minister KN Rajanna claims he and 48 others — including legislators, central leaders, and even judges — have been targeted in a calculated campaign. But functionaries suggest this is only a scratch on the surface and that numerous cases have been quietly settled with compromises and hefty payoffs, never making it to the public eye.
“The frequent emergence of sex video scandals in Karnataka politics suggests both a deep-rooted crisis of political ethics and a strategic tool in power struggles,” said Vivek Menon, a campaigner for ethics in politics.
“On one hand, these scandals reflect moral and ethical decline, where personal misconduct erodes public trust. On the other, they are weaponised by political rivals to tarnish reputations and shift power dynamics.”
Menon argues these cases expose not just personal lapses but a dangerous trend where politics is no longer about governance but survival at any cost. “The recurrence of such incidents indicates a failure of internal party discipline and a culture where sensationalism overshadows governance,” he said.
Senior Congress functionary and Supreme Court advocate Brijesh Kalappa said honeytraps have become a key weapon for political destruction. “For decades, Karnataka’s politics revolved around caste equations, business interests, and personal networks,” Kalappa said. “But with power now bringing immense financial benefits, political ambition has turned ruthless. Politics has become a blood sport, and these honeytraps are masterminded by vested interests. With more money flowing into politics, rivalries — like business rivalries — are becoming far more intense. The means have begun to matter less.”
But despite numerous cautionary tales, politicians continue to walk into traps set by adversaries. Political analyst Prof Ravindra Reshme sees this as part of a larger trend where power breeds wealth and reckless indulgence.
“Honeytraps traps are an external manifestation of a deeper malaise afflicting Karnataka’s politics,” Reshme said. “Initially, caste politics had an ideological coating of social justice, but it soon became a cocktail of caste, money, and muscle power. Functionaries became richer than their parties, flaunting power like nawabs and maharajas. Politics turned into a pathway to easy money, instant riches, and social status. Today, politicians are easy targets for those baying for their downfall. It has become a no-holds-barred fight — no matter the cost to the party’s image.”
With no concrete measures to curb such tactics, the question remains — will politicians learn, or will the fight for top posts continue to be contested in bedrooms rather than at the hustings?
While such scandals are not new to Indian politics, they have become bitter and personal. These are no longer isolated acts of personal indiscretion but orchestrated operations where technology, surveillance, and vendettas converge to destroy reputations and shift power.
BJP legislator Ramesh Jarkiholi was among the first high-profile casualties in recent years, when he was forced to quit his ministerial post following a leaked sex tape. More recently, Prajwal Revanna and Suraj Revanna, members of the family of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, have faced similar ignominy.
Now, cooperation minister KN Rajanna claims he and 48 others — including legislators, central leaders, and even judges — have been targeted in a calculated campaign. But functionaries suggest this is only a scratch on the surface and that numerous cases have been quietly settled with compromises and hefty payoffs, never making it to the public eye.
“The frequent emergence of sex video scandals in Karnataka politics suggests both a deep-rooted crisis of political ethics and a strategic tool in power struggles,” said Vivek Menon, a campaigner for ethics in politics.
“On one hand, these scandals reflect moral and ethical decline, where personal misconduct erodes public trust. On the other, they are weaponised by political rivals to tarnish reputations and shift power dynamics.”
Menon argues these cases expose not just personal lapses but a dangerous trend where politics is no longer about governance but survival at any cost. “The recurrence of such incidents indicates a failure of internal party discipline and a culture where sensationalism overshadows governance,” he said.
Senior Congress functionary and Supreme Court advocate Brijesh Kalappa said honeytraps have become a key weapon for political destruction. “For decades, Karnataka’s politics revolved around caste equations, business interests, and personal networks,” Kalappa said. “But with power now bringing immense financial benefits, political ambition has turned ruthless. Politics has become a blood sport, and these honeytraps are masterminded by vested interests. With more money flowing into politics, rivalries — like business rivalries — are becoming far more intense. The means have begun to matter less.”
But despite numerous cautionary tales, politicians continue to walk into traps set by adversaries. Political analyst Prof Ravindra Reshme sees this as part of a larger trend where power breeds wealth and reckless indulgence.
“Honeytraps traps are an external manifestation of a deeper malaise afflicting Karnataka’s politics,” Reshme said. “Initially, caste politics had an ideological coating of social justice, but it soon became a cocktail of caste, money, and muscle power. Functionaries became richer than their parties, flaunting power like nawabs and maharajas. Politics turned into a pathway to easy money, instant riches, and social status. Today, politicians are easy targets for those baying for their downfall. It has become a no-holds-barred fight — no matter the cost to the party’s image.”
With no concrete measures to curb such tactics, the question remains — will politicians learn, or will the fight for top posts continue to be contested in bedrooms rather than at the hustings?
