DK Shivakumar, a senior Congress leader and deputy CM of Karnataka, is walking a tightrope between his party and the BJP in his quest to become the chief minister. His recent attendance at events hosted by Sadhguru and sharing the stage with Union Home Minister Amit Shah have raised questions about his political allegiance. While supporters praise his diplomatic moves, critics accuse him of being opportunistic and lacking integrity. However, Shivakumar has defended himself, stating that he is a Hindu at heart and believes in respecting all religions. He also clarified that he has not met Amit Shah and will not let allegations made by the BJP affect him.
Yesterday, a Delhi court called the Special Director of Enforcement Directorate to appear in person after a counsel for the probe agency behaved offensively and disrespectfully towards the judge during a hearing for a money laundering case involving Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The judge felt that the agency's behavior was a threat to the court's dignity and issued a directive for appropriate action to be taken. This comes after an application was filed by an accused seeking the release of confiscated evidence. The ED, on the other hand, requested a 15-day adjournment leading the judge to record in the order about "higher-ups" exerting influence.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is not involved in any wrongdoing in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) irregularities case. He also dismissed the allegations and raised questions about the timing of these accusations coming up during the Haryana elections. Shivakumar further announced decisions to relocate the Rajiv Gandhi Medical University and enhance infrastructure at Kanakapura Medical College.
The 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections are shaping up to be a direct contest between the ruling BJP and Congress, with the potential of the Janata Dal - Secular (JD-S) playing the role of kingmaker. Top candidates include former CM Siddaramaiah, current CM Basavaraj Bommai, and Congress president DK Shivakumar. The results of this election will have a crucial impact on the state as well as set the tone for the BJP's future in South India. Stay tuned for the results on May 13!
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has assured that two firms have been approached to repair the damaged gate at Tungabhadra Dam. He also stated that the state government is taking measures to safeguard the dam and manage water. CM Siddaramaiah will visit the dam and hold a meeting with officials tomorrow to address the issue. The incident at Tungabhadra Dam has sparked political controversy, with Shivakumar accusing the opposition BJP of politicizing the situation.
After four years as KPCC chief, D.K. Shivakumar faces pressure to step down as the Congress party leader in Karnataka. As loyalists of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demand a change, Shivakumar refuses to give in and instead proposes for Siddaramaiah's replacement. The Congress party in Karnataka is embroiled in a power struggle as multiple leaders stake a claim for the KPCC chief position, leading to speculation and tension within the party.
The power struggle within the Karnataka Congress party becomes more intense as MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj publicly advocates for Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to be appointed as Chief Minister. Basavaraj credits Shivakumar for the party's recent election victory and praises his leadership abilities. He also addresses other leaders' demands for multiple Deputy CM posts and warns against opposition party BJP's attempts to seize power.
After the fall of the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka, there are speculations that a few Congress rebels are being persuaded to return home, under operation “hasta” being handled by DK Shivakumar. The deputy chief minister is showing excellent personal relations across the party lines and has been successful in getting visits and pledges of a few disgruntled BJP and JD (S) MLAs. Congress wants to strengthen its Lok Sabha prospects from Karnataka, where the BJP swept in the last general elections, this is the reason why the opposition party is targeting all such leaders who can potentially provide them with an upper hand in the upcoming elections.
After six rebel Congress MLAs cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh, they are now demanding for the party to replace the current Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The party has sought the help of DK Shivakumar and Bhupender Hooda to resolve the crisis while the BJP MLAs in Himachal Pradesh and ex-CM Jairam Thakur are set to meet the Governor. Congress faced a major upset in the state as BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan was declared the winner after cross-voting by Congress MLAs.
Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna, a Congress party member, has caused controversy by stating that the Karnataka government's guarantee schemes would be stopped if the party does not win the majority of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This statement has been criticized by the opposition BJP, while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has clarified that the schemes will continue for five years. Balakrishna argues that the people's vote should not be influenced by the promise of a temple, and instead should focus on the guarantee schemes that benefit women.