In the political landscape of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar has been a trusted and reliable figure for the Congress party. As a member of the Vokkaliga community and an eight-time MLA, Shivakumar is highly regarded as a “troubleshooter” for the party. He has played a critical role not only in the 2023 assembly elections but also on several important occasions in the past.
Vokkaligas are the second most influential community in Karnataka after the Lingayats, mainly associated with agriculture. Shivakumar has been a loyal member of the Congress party from the beginning and is considered a strong contender for the chief minister’s post.
Shivakumar’s Troubleshooting Skills
Shivakumar has played a crucial role as a troubleshooter for the Congress party. In 2002, when Vilasrao Deshmukh’s government faced a vote of no confidence in Maharashtra, Shivakumar housed the MLAs at his resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru. This step saved the Deshmukh government.
Shivakumar was also “instrumental” in ensuring the victory of the late Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat in 2017. He put up Congress MLAs from Gujarat at a resort to avoid them being poached by the opposition.
However, Shivakumar’s name was embroiled in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in September 2018. The ED charged him with alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions based on a charge sheet filed by the Income Tax Department. Several raids were conducted by the Income Tax Department and ED, and cases were registered against him.
Shivakumar was arrested on September 3, 2019, after intensive questioning under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He got bail on October 23, 2019. The ED filed a charge sheet against Shivakumar on May 26, 2022, under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Despite the allegations, Shivakumar has remained a prominent leader in the Congress party. The Association for Democratic Reforms has named him the third richest candidate in the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, with assets worth Rs 1,413 crore.
Shivakumar’s Political Career
Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura, Shivakumar started his political career as a student leader in the 1980s. He contested his first election from Sathanur assembly constituency in 1989, when he was only 27 years old.
During the 2023 assembly elections, Shivakumar appeared emotional in front of television cameras when the results came in after intense campaigning across the state. He credited the victory to the party workers and leaders, saying, “This is collective leadership, and we worked together.”
Conclusion
DK Shivakumar has played a critical role as a troubleshooter for the Congress party on several occasions, displaying his political acumen and reliability. Despite the legal allegations against him, he remains a highly regarded leader in Karnataka’s political landscape, and his influence is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
