Shivakumar recalls ‘snatching’ power on astrologer advice

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday set tongues wagging when he recalled how he “snatched” power when SM Krishna was sworn in as CM in 1999. Shivakumar said he acted on his astrologer’s advice and insisted Krishna include him in his Cabinet. He was then made the Urban Development Minister. It is widely understood that Shivakumar is supposed to be elevated to the CM’s post for the second half of the term. Siddaramaiah was not present in the Assembly at the time. The Deputy CM was speaking about his mentor Krishna whose final rites he participated in on Wednesday. Shivakumar said he pressed Krishna with his track record of being loyal to him for years.

“TB Jayachandra and I went to Narasimha Rao ji and sought a seat for SM Krishna for Rajya Sabha. After a lot of reluctance, we managed to convince him to deny a ticket to a sitting MP and give it to S M Krishna,” Shivakumar said. “I was the General Secretary when Dharam Singh was the party president. TB Jayachandra, CM Lingappa, Shivamurthy and Nafeeza camped in Delhi for three months to convince Sonia Gandhi to make Krishna the party president.

The rest is history as we went on to form a government with a thumping majority (in 1999)” he said, referring to the Congress’ 132 seat victory in the Assembly polls that year. Shivakumar pointed out that he was initially left out of the ministers’ list. “I myself prepared the list of ministers in front of SMK and the list was sent to the High command. When the list was sent to the Governor, Jayachandra’ name and mine were not there.

I then went to astrologer Dwarakanath and he asked me to grab the power rather than waiting for it. Later, I barged into SMK’s house and demanded that I become a minister. The Governor was informed at 6 am to stop the swearing in ceremony and my name was included in the list after deliberations with the High command,” he said.

Ashoka takes sly dig: Ashoka asked Shivakumar if he would snatch power now. “You used the word snatch. Is this the message you’re trying to send? When will you snatch the CM’s post? Your astrologer told you to snatch it as far as I know. I’m aware of whom you consult. He (the astrologer) told me he said to DK Shivakumar, you will become CM if you do it before January. It would be difficult after that because his fortunes are bad after that.

Therefore, use everything at your disposal and snatch it,” he said, pointing out that when Devegowda and SR Bommai fought for the CM’s post in Janata Dal, colleague Ramakrishna Hegde benefitted, referring to the possibility of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge becoming the CM after Siddaramaiah.